A survey on management practices of hypotension in preterm neonates: an Indian perspective

BackgroundHypotension is a common entity in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and is reported in 24%–50% of preterm infants with birth weight less than 1,500 g. Rapid diagnosis and aggressive management is crucial to reduce its detrimental effects on end-organs especially the brain. Physicians...

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Main Authors: Rupam Das, Rema Nagpal, Sujata Deshpande, Gunjana Kumar, Anita Singh, Aditya Kallimath, Pradeep Suryawanshi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2024-10-01
Series:Frontiers in Pediatrics
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2024.1411719/full
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author Rupam Das
Rema Nagpal
Sujata Deshpande
Gunjana Kumar
Anita Singh
Aditya Kallimath
Pradeep Suryawanshi
author_facet Rupam Das
Rema Nagpal
Sujata Deshpande
Gunjana Kumar
Anita Singh
Aditya Kallimath
Pradeep Suryawanshi
author_sort Rupam Das
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundHypotension is a common entity in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and is reported in 24%–50% of preterm infants with birth weight less than 1,500 g. Rapid diagnosis and aggressive management is crucial to reduce its detrimental effects on end-organs especially the brain. Physicians often rely on blood pressure alone as a reliable indicator of tissue perfusion, but variations exist in the definition of this crucial parameter. There are also practice variations in the use of diagnostic tools and management modalities among physicians.MethodologyA physician-based cross-sectional survey of management practices of hypotension in preterm neonates in Indian NICUs was conducted using an online survey tool. The questionnaire addressed diagnostic criteria used, utility of echocardiography for the assessment of hypotension, and management strategies used, such as volume expansion, inotropes and steroids.ResultsThree hundred and twenty physicians, working predominantly in Level III NICUs, responded to the survey. The practice of delayed cord clamping was followed in the units of 78% respondents. Only 44% respondents had an institutional written protocol for the management of hypotension. The criteria for the diagnosis of hypotension varied, with 52% using mean blood pressure (BP) less than gestational age as the criteria. Capillary refill time, blood pressure and heart rate were the most common clinical criteria used. 85% respondents used echocardiography in the NICU, but only 73% utilised it for assessment of a hypotensive neonate. Physicians preferred a ‘volume-inotrope-echo-steroid’ strategy, with 85% respondents using volume expansion. Dopamine was the preferred first line inotrope, followed by norepinephrine and low-dose epinephrine.ConclusionThis survey reflects significant variations in practice amongst neonatal physicians in India. Bedside targeted echocardiography needs to be better utilised as a vital tool to determine the pathophysiology of disease and hemodynamic monitoring in the management of hypotension in neonates. While further research is needed on outcome-oriented objectives, awareness and dissemination of already existing guidelines would be useful to standardize clinical practice.
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spelling doaj-art-92aba08515284e4fb2f788efbdaaab572025-08-20T01:50:45ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Pediatrics2296-23602024-10-011210.3389/fped.2024.14117191411719A survey on management practices of hypotension in preterm neonates: an Indian perspectiveRupam Das0Rema Nagpal1Sujata Deshpande2Gunjana Kumar3Anita Singh4Aditya Kallimath5Pradeep Suryawanshi6Department of Neonatology, Bharati Vidyapeeth University Medical College, Hospital, and Research Centre, Pune, IndiaDepartment of Neonatology, Bharati Vidyapeeth University Medical College, Hospital, and Research Centre, Pune, IndiaDepartment of Neonatology, Bharati Vidyapeeth University Medical College, Hospital, and Research Centre, Pune, IndiaDepartment of Neonatology, National Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Jaipur, IndiaSanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, IndiaDepartment of Neonatology, Bharati Vidyapeeth University Medical College, Hospital, and Research Centre, Pune, IndiaDepartment of Neonatology, Bharati Vidyapeeth University Medical College, Hospital, and Research Centre, Pune, IndiaBackgroundHypotension is a common entity in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and is reported in 24%–50% of preterm infants with birth weight less than 1,500 g. Rapid diagnosis and aggressive management is crucial to reduce its detrimental effects on end-organs especially the brain. Physicians often rely on blood pressure alone as a reliable indicator of tissue perfusion, but variations exist in the definition of this crucial parameter. There are also practice variations in the use of diagnostic tools and management modalities among physicians.MethodologyA physician-based cross-sectional survey of management practices of hypotension in preterm neonates in Indian NICUs was conducted using an online survey tool. The questionnaire addressed diagnostic criteria used, utility of echocardiography for the assessment of hypotension, and management strategies used, such as volume expansion, inotropes and steroids.ResultsThree hundred and twenty physicians, working predominantly in Level III NICUs, responded to the survey. The practice of delayed cord clamping was followed in the units of 78% respondents. Only 44% respondents had an institutional written protocol for the management of hypotension. The criteria for the diagnosis of hypotension varied, with 52% using mean blood pressure (BP) less than gestational age as the criteria. Capillary refill time, blood pressure and heart rate were the most common clinical criteria used. 85% respondents used echocardiography in the NICU, but only 73% utilised it for assessment of a hypotensive neonate. Physicians preferred a ‘volume-inotrope-echo-steroid’ strategy, with 85% respondents using volume expansion. Dopamine was the preferred first line inotrope, followed by norepinephrine and low-dose epinephrine.ConclusionThis survey reflects significant variations in practice amongst neonatal physicians in India. Bedside targeted echocardiography needs to be better utilised as a vital tool to determine the pathophysiology of disease and hemodynamic monitoring in the management of hypotension in neonates. While further research is needed on outcome-oriented objectives, awareness and dissemination of already existing guidelines would be useful to standardize clinical practice.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2024.1411719/fullhypotensionsurveypractice variationsIndian NICUspreterm
spellingShingle Rupam Das
Rema Nagpal
Sujata Deshpande
Gunjana Kumar
Anita Singh
Aditya Kallimath
Pradeep Suryawanshi
A survey on management practices of hypotension in preterm neonates: an Indian perspective
Frontiers in Pediatrics
hypotension
survey
practice variations
Indian NICUs
preterm
title A survey on management practices of hypotension in preterm neonates: an Indian perspective
title_full A survey on management practices of hypotension in preterm neonates: an Indian perspective
title_fullStr A survey on management practices of hypotension in preterm neonates: an Indian perspective
title_full_unstemmed A survey on management practices of hypotension in preterm neonates: an Indian perspective
title_short A survey on management practices of hypotension in preterm neonates: an Indian perspective
title_sort survey on management practices of hypotension in preterm neonates an indian perspective
topic hypotension
survey
practice variations
Indian NICUs
preterm
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2024.1411719/full
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