A -hour-old male neonate is evaluated in the nursery for jitteriness, lethargy, and poor feeding. He was born at weeks gestation to a mother with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus. His birth weight was (). Vital signs include a temperature of (), heart rate of , and respiratory rate of . Physical examination reveals a markedly plethoric (ruddy) skin appearance. Small, firm, white nodules are noted on the alveolar ridges. A peripheral venous hematocrit is . Capillary blood glucose is . Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management?
- AAdminister an intravenous bolus of 10% dextrose in water
- BAdminister empiric intravenous ampicillin and gentamicin
- Perform a partial exchange transfusion with normal salineCevap
- DApply topical oral nystatin suspension
- EObtain an echocardiogram to evaluate for congenital heart disease
Cevap
The most appropriate next step in management is to perform a partial exchange transfusion with normal saline.
This patient has symptomatic neonatal polycythemia, defined as a venous hematocrit greater than 65% accompanied by clinical signs. The maternal history of poorly controlled diabetes leads to fetal hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia. Hyperinsulinemia increases fetal metabolic demand and oxygen consumption, resulting in relative fetal hypoxia. This stimulates erythropoietin production, leading to increased red blood cell mass and polycythemia. The resulting hyperviscosity reduces tissue perfusion and can cause symptoms such as jitteriness, lethargy, poor feeding, plethora, and respiratory distress. In a symptomatic infant with a venous hematocrit of 72%, the definitive treatment is a partial exchange transfusion, typically with normal saline, to reduce blood viscosity without altering the circulating blood volume. This intervention prevents severe ischemic complications like cerebral infarction or necrotizing enterocolitis.
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Anahtar Kavram
Management of symptomatic neonatal polycythemia