In this segment, Ben and Daphna review a retrospective study from the Hospital for Sick Children comparing outcomes of therapeutic hypothermia in late preterm (34-35 weeks) versus early term (36-37 weeks) infants. They discuss the significantly higher rates of mortality, hemodynamic instability, and hypoglycemia found in the younger cohort, known as "Group 1". The hosts explore the implications of using MRI scoring systems like the Weeke score for preterm brains and debate the ethical challenges of conducting future randomized trials as clinical practice shifts away from cooling younger babies based on emerging retrospective data.

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Whole-body hypothermia in late preterm and early term infants: a retrospective analysis from a neurocritical care unit. Martinez A, Cikman G, Al Kalaf H, Wilson D, Banh B, Abdelmageed W, Beamonte Arango I, Christensen R, Branson HM, Cizmeci MN.Pediatr Res. 2026 Jan 7. doi: 10.1038/s41390-025-04701-x. Online ahead of print.PMID: 41501407

Support the show

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below.

Enjoy!

In this episode of Journal Club, Ben and Daphna review a prospective cohort study from the Journal of Perinatology that examines the care of neonates following in-utero growth restriction. The hosts unpack the critical distinction between Fetal Growth Restriction (FGR) and Small for Gestational Age (SGA), highlighting how the "decay of information" in the NICU can lead clinicians to overlook early risk factors as babies grow. They discuss the study’s alarming findings regarding the six-fold increased risk of Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC) in SGA infants and the importance of maintaining a comprehensive medical history throughout a patient's stay.

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Care of neonates following in-utero growth restriction: A prospective cohort study exploring neonatal morbidity. Alda MG, Wood AG, MacDonald T, Charlton JK.J Perinatol. 2025 Sep;45(9):1219-1225. doi: 10.1038/s41372-025-02397-9. Epub 2025 Aug 21.PMID: 40841433 Free PMC article.

Support the show

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below.

Enjoy!

In this episode of Journal Club, Ben and Daphna review a non-inferiority trial from the European Journal of Pediatrics exploring surfactant administration thresholds in preterm neonates. The study, conducted in India, compares a 30% versus 40% FiO2 threshold for babies 26-32 weeks gestational age. The hosts break down the counterintuitive findings regarding respiratory support duration in younger subgroups and discuss the broader implications of using rigid FiO2 heuristics versus individualized patient assessment. They also debate how resource availability influences clinical protocols and the potential benefits of "LISA" (Less Invasive Surfactant Administration) for avoiding intubation.

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Higher (40%) versus lower (30%) FiO2 threshold for surfactant administration in preterm neonates between 26 and 32 weeks of gestational age: a non-inferiority randomized controlled trial. Haq MI, Datta V, Bandyopadhyay T, Nangia S, Anand P, Murukesan VM.Eur J Pediatr. 2025 Nov 25;184(12):793. doi: 10.1007/s00431-025-06628-1.PMID: 41288797 Clinical Trial.

Support the show

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below.

Enjoy!