Infants with kidney failure who initiate kidney replacement therapy (KRT) within 3 months of life require optimal fluid and nutritional management to support growth. Continuous or prolonged intermittent KRT (CKRT or PIKRT) is often used as a bridge to peritoneal dialysis facilitating earlier nutrition provision but is associated with protein losses. Current guidelines recommend ≥ 3–3.5 g/kg/day of protein during KRT. We aimed to assess nutritional prescriptions and growth in these infants. We conducted a retrospective review of infants with kidney failure managed with extracorporeal KRT at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital between January 2021 and December 2024. Demographics, dialysis dose, nutrition prescriptions, anthropometry, and laboratory values were collected weekly from birth through 8 weeks and at discharge. Seventeen infants were included; 12 (71

Importance:The management of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in preterm infants is controversial. Objective:To determine whether expectant management compared with active treatment of a protocol-defined PDA in preterm infants decreases the incidence of death or bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Design, Setting, and Participants:A randomized clinical trial including infants born at 22 to 28 weeks' gestation and diagnosed with a protocol-defined PDA between the age of 48 hours and 21 days at screening. The trial was conducted from December 2018 to December 2024 at 33 hospitals within the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Neonatal Research Network. The final date of follow-up was June 2025. Interventions:Infants with PDA were randomized to expectant management (n = 242) or active treatment (n = 240; acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or indomethacin) to close the PDA. Main Outcomes and Measures:The primary outcome was death or BPD at 36 weeks' postmenstrual age. The secondary outcomes included the components of the primary outcome and other morbidities of prematurity. Results:A total of 482 infants were randomized (median gestational age, 25 weeks [IQR, 24 to 27 weeks]; median birth weight, 760 g [IQR, 620 to 935 g]). The trial was stopped for futility and safety after the 50% interim analysis for the primary outcome due to higher survival in the expectant management group. The incidence of death or BPD was 80.9% (195/241) of infants in the expectant management group vs 79.6% (191/240) of infants in the active treatment group (adjusted risk difference, 1.2% [95% CI, -5.7% to 8.1%]; P = .73). The incidence of death before 36 weeks' postmenstrual age was 4.1% (10/241) of infants in the expectant management group vs 9.6% (23/240) of infants in the active treatment group (adjusted risk difference, -5.6% [95% CI, -10.1% to -1.2%]; P = .01). Infections resulting in death occurred in 0.8% (2/241) of infants in the expectant management group vs 3.8% (9/240) of infants in the active treatment group. Conclusions and Relevance:In extremely preterm infants with a protocol-defined PDA, death or BPD did not differ between the expectant management group and the active treatment group. Survival was substantially higher with expectant management. Trial Registration:ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03456336.

QuestionAmong preterm infants born at 22 to 28 weeks' gestation with a protocol-defined patent ductus arteriosus, does expectant management compared with active treatment (pharmacological treatment with acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or indomethacin) decrease the incidence of death or bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD)?FindingsIn this multicenter, randomized clinical trial, the incidence of death or BPD at 36 weeks' postmenstrual age was not different between groups (80.9% in expectant management group vs 79.6% in active treatment group). However, the incidence of death by 36 weeks' postmenstrual age was lower in the expectant management group than in the active treatment group (4.1% vs 9.6%, respectively).MeaningThe incidence of death or BPD was not different between groups, but more infants survived in the expectant management group. ImportanceThe management of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in preterm infants is controversial.ObjectiveTo determine whether expectant management compared with active treatment of a protocol-defined PDA in preterm infants decreases the incidence of death or bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD).Design, Setting, and ParticipantsA randomized clinical trial including infants born at 22 to 28 weeks' gestation and diagnosed with a protocol-defined PDA between the age of 48 hours and 21 days at screening. The trial was conducted from December 2018 to December 2024 at 33 hospitals within the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Neonatal Research Network. The final date of follow-up was June 2025.InterventionsInfants with PDA were randomized to expectant management (n = 242) or active treatment (n = 240; acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or indomethacin) to close the PDA.Main Outcomes and MeasuresThe primary outcome was death or BPD at 36 weeks' postmenstrual age. The secondary outcomes included the components of the primary outcome and other morbidities of prematurity.ResultsA total of 482 infants were randomized (median gestational age, 25 weeks [IQR, 24 to 27 weeks]; median birth weight, 760 g [IQR, 620 to 935 g]). The trial was stopped for futility and safety after the 50% interim analysis for the primary outcome due to higher survival in the expectant management group. The incidence of death or BPD was 80.9% (195/241) of infants in the expectant management group vs 79.6% (191/240) of infants in the active treatment group (adjusted risk difference, 1.2% [95% CI, -5.7% to 8.1%]; P = .73). The incidence of death before 36 weeks' postmenstrual age was 4.1% (10/241) of infants in the expectant management group vs 9.6% (23/240) of infants in the active treatment group (adjusted risk difference, -5.6% [95% CI, -10.1% to -1.2%]; P = .01). Infections resulting in death occurred in 0.8% (2/241) of infants in the expectant management group vs 3.8% (9/240) of infants in the active treatment group.Conclusions and RelevanceIn extremely preterm infants with a protocol-defined PDA, death or BPD did not differ between the expectant management group and the active treatment group. Survival was substantially higher with expectant management.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03456336 This randomized clinical trial compares the effects of expectant management of a patent ductus arteriosus vs active treatment on death or bronchopulmonary dysplasia in preterm infants.

Importance:Transcatheter closure of the patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) has increasingly been adopted in extremely preterm infants as a method to definitively close the PDA while avoiding the inherent risks of surgical ligation. Differences in respiratory outcomes after transcatheter closure compared with surgical ligation have not been substantiated, particularly in the context of timing of the intervention. Objective:To characterize respiratory outcomes in extremely preterm infants with PDA treated with transcatheter device closure compared with surgical ligation. Design, Setting, and Participants:This retrospective cohort study assessed data from preterm infants born at less than 29 weeks' gestation or with birth weight less than 1000 g who underwent definitive PDA closure in neonatal intensive care units participating in the Neonatal Research Network's Generic Database between January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2020. Data were analyzed from October 2021 to February 2024. Exposures:PDA treatment with transcatheter device closure or with surgical ligation. Main Outcomes and Measures:The primary outcome was total days of mechanical ventilation. Results:Of 3806 included infants with a PDA diagnosis, 202 underwent transcatheter PDA closure (median [IQR] gestational age, 25.4 [24.1-27.1] weeks; 114 [56%] female) and 359 underwent surgical ligation (median [IQR] gestational age, 24.9 [24.0-25.9] weeks; 187 [52%] female). Infant age at transcatheter closure was older than at surgical ligation (mean [SD], 58.7 [28.4] vs 33.6 [16.7] days; P < .001). After adjustment of analyses for center, birth year, gestational age, age at PDA intervention, and prior pharmacologic treatment, infants with transcatheter closure compared with surgical ligation had comparable respiratory outcomes, including total days of mechanical ventilation (adjusted median difference, -2.65 [95% CI, -8.36 to 3.07] days; P = .36). Conclusions and Relevance:In this cohort study of extremely preterm infants who underwent transcatheter closure compared with surgical ligation for treatment of PDA, respiratory outcomes did not differ, although the transcatheter closure group had a longer duration of PDA exposure. Future research evaluating outcomes after transcatheter PDA closure should assess the optimal timing of definitive intervention.

Identify overt and latent weaknesses in preliminary plans for initiating a Fetoscopic Endoluminal Tracheal Occlusion program. Clinical scenarios involving placement and removal of a fetal tracheal occlusion device for fetuses with severe congenital diaphragmatic hernia were simulated. All sessions took place in the actual hospital environments and were captured on video for later playback, transcription and analysis. Simulation-based investigation produced: • a list of plausible scenarios • lists of equipment required • diagrams of room setup and positioning of personnel • decision trees for each scenario • situation awareness issues • workflow issues • areas requiring additional planning. Using appropriate patient simulators and task trainers, teams experienced multiple realistic scenarios that facilitated the development of equipment lists, room setup diagrams, and tactics to remediate identified weaknesses. Simulation is a useful strategy to prepare for the implementation of new, high-risk clinical programs.

OBJECTIVE:To examine whether hydrocortisone (HC) modified the relationship of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) to outcomes among infants born extremely preterm and enrolled in the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Neonatal Research Network (NRN) HC trial. STUDY DESIGN:This was a posthoc secondary analysis of infants born <30 weeks' gestation and enrolled in the NRN HC Trial. The primary outcome was moderate to severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) or death. Secondary outcomes included moderate to severe BPD, death, necrotizing enterocolitis, late-onset sepsis, days of mechanical ventilation, oxygen supplementation, Z-scores for growth, home oxygen, BPD severity, neurodevelopmental impairment, and moderate to severe cerebral palsy. Analyses for interaction between PDA (defined as treatment to achieve PDA closure) and HC were performed for the primary and secondary outcomes. RESULTS:Of 800 infants enrolled in the NRN HC trial, PDA was treated in 198 HC treated and 197 placebo-treated infants. HC did not modify the relationship of PDA with BPD or death (P = .93). Regardless of HC treatment, PDA was associated with a significant increase in duration of ventilatory support, oxygen supplementation at 36 weeks postmenstrual age (PMA), BPD severity, decreased weight-for-age Z-score at 36 weeks PMA, moderate to severe BPD, or death at 36 weeks PMA and home oxygen support. CONCLUSIONS:HC after the second postnatal week did not alter the relationship between PDA and BPD or death among infants born extremely preterm. PDA was associated with several adverse outcomes regardless of HC treatment.

Hospitalization of moderately preterm infants may be prolonged while waiting for apnea of prematurity to resolve after discontinuing caffeine. To evaluate whether extending caffeine treatment reduces the duration of hospitalization. From February 2019 to December 2022, this randomized clinical trial in 29 US hospitals enrolled infants born at 29 to 33 weeks’ gestation who at 33 to 35 weeks’ postmenstrual age were receiving caffeine treatment with plans to discontinue it plus receiving full feeds (≥120 mL/kg/d). Follow-up was completed on March 20, 2023. Infants were randomized to oral caffeine citrate (10 mg/kg/d) or placebo until 28 days after discharge. The primary outcome was days to discharge after randomization. Secondary outcomes included days to physiological maturity (apnea free for 5 consecutive days, receiving full oral feeds, and out of the incubator for at least 48 hours), postmenstrual age at discharge, all-cause hospital readmissions, all-cause sick and emergency department visits, safety outcomes, and death. A total of 827 infants (median gestational age, 31 weeks; 414 female [51%]) were randomized (416, caffeine; 411, placebo) out of the 878 planned before reaching the prespecified futility threshold. Days of hospitalization after randomization did not differ between groups (18.0 days [IQR, 10 to 30 days] for caffeine vs 16.5 [IQR, 10 to 27 days] for placebo; adjusted median difference, 0 days [95% CI, −1.7 to 1.7 days]), nor did days to physiological maturity differ (14.0 vs 15.0 days, adjusted median difference, −1 day [95% CI, −2.4 to 0.4 days]). Infants receiving caffeine were apnea free sooner (6.0 vs 10.0 days; adjusted median difference, −2.7 days [95% CI, −3.4 to −2.0 days ]) but had similar days to full oral feeding (7.5 vs 6.0 days, adjusted median difference, 0 days [95% CI, −0.1 to 0.1]). Rates of readmissions and sick visits did not differ between groups. There was no statistically significant difference in adverse events between the 2 groups. In moderately preterm infants, continuation of caffeine treatment compared with placebo did not shorten hospitalization. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03340727

Extremely preterm infants are at high risk for bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and death. Multiple small randomized clinical trials showed that a combination of budesonide with surfactant compared with surfactant alone reduced BPD or death. To determine if early intratracheal administration of a combination of budesonide (0.25 mg/kg) mixed with surfactant, compared with surfactant alone, reduces physiologic BPD or death by 36 weeks’ postmenstrual age in extremely preterm infants. This double-masked randomized clinical trial was conducted from April 2021 to June 2024 in the 17 centers of the United States Neonatal Research Network. Infants 22 to 28 weeks’ gestation or 401 to 1000 g birth weight were enrolled after clinical decision to give surfactant, with the first dose of surfactant being study drug (prior surfactant was an exclusion criterion). Infants were randomly allocated 1:1 to receive 1 to 2 doses of budesonide + surfactant (poractant alfa) or surfactant alone via endotracheal tube within 50 hours of birth. The primary outcome was physiologic BPD or death by 36 weeks’ postmenstrual age. There were 5 prespecified secondary outcomes and multiple prespecified exploratory and safety outcomes. The trial was stopped with 641 infants enrolled (55.3% of 1160 planned; mean birth weight, 810 g [SD, 256 g]; gestational age, 25.9 weeks [SD, 1.9 weeks]), because interim analysis at 50% enrollment reached the prespecified futility threshold. The incidence of BPD or death was 68.5% in the budesonide + surfactant group and 67.9% in the surfactant-alone group (adjusted relative risk [RR], 1.00 [95% CI, 0.90-1.11]). No differences were noted in mortality (15.3% vs 13.2%; adjusted RR, 1.13 [95% CI, 0.78-1.64]) or BPD among survivors to 36 weeks’ postmenstrual age (62.9% vs 63.0%; adjusted RR, 0.99 [95% CI, 0.87-1.12]). More infants who received budesonide + surfactant compared with surfactant alone had hyperglycemia (66.7% vs 49.8%; adjusted RR, 1.33 [95% CI, 1.17-1.51]). In this large multicenter trial, the combination of budesonide with surfactant did not reduce the risk of BPD or death at 36 weeks’ postmenstrual age in extremely preterm infants. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04545866

Infants with congenital bilateral renal agenesis are at significant risk for morbidity and mortality, despite substantial and continuing advances in fetal and neonatal therapeutics. Infants with bilateral renal agenesis may episodically develop severe hypotension that can be refractory to traditional vasopressors. Synthetic angiotensin-II has been successfully used in adult and a few pediatric patients with refractory hypotension but has not been extensively studied in infants. We describe the use of angiotensin-II in treating refractory hypotension in a premature infant with congenital bilateral renal agenesis admitted to the NICU. Within 48 hours, he no longer required other vasopressors. Subsequently, angiotensin-II was gradually weaned and discontinued over 10 days and the patient was ultimately discharged from the hospital. This case demonstrates that angiotensin-II may be a helpful agent to treat refractory hypotension in infants with bilateral renal agenesis.

Objective To examine resource and service use after discharge among infants born extraordinarily preterm in California who attended high-risk infant follow-up (HRIF) clinic by 12 months corrected age. Study design We included infants born 2010-2017 between 22 + 0/7 and 25 + 6/7 weeks' gestational age in the California Perinatal Quality Care Collaborative and California Perinatal Quality Care Collaborative-California Children's Services HRIF databases. We evaluated rates of hospitalization, surgeries, medications, equipment, medical service and special service use, and referrals. We examined factors associated with receiving ≥ 2 medical services, and ≥ 1 special service. Results A total of 3941 of 5284 infants received a HRIF visit by 12 months corrected age. Infants born at earlier gestational ages used more medications, equipment, medical services, and special services and had higher rates of referral to medical and special services at the first HRIF visit. Infants with major morbidity, surgery, caregiver concerns, and mothers with more years of education had higher odds of receiving ≥ 2 medical services. Infants with Black maternal race, younger maternal age, female sex, and discharge from lower level neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) had lower odds of receiving ≥ 2 medical services. Infants with more educated mothers, multiple gestation, major morbidity, surgery, caregiver concerns, and discharge from lower level NICUs had increased odds of receiving a special service. Conclusions Infants born extraordinarily preterm have substantial resource use after discharge. High resource utilization was associated with maternal/sociodemographic factors and expected clinical factors. Early functional and service use information is valuable to parents and underscores the need for NICU providers to appropriately prepare and refer families.

BACKGROUND:Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is becoming increasingly utilized, with the focus of training aimed at physicians. However, the role of neonatal nurse practitioners (NNPs) in the development of POCUS programs is not well described. PURPOSE:To describe the NNP role in the implementation of a NICU POCUS program and exemplify the potential to expand the professional scope and educational advancement of NNPs. METHODS:In 2018, a multidisciplinary team assembled to develop a POCUS program in the NICU at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital (LPCH). Three NNPs received formal POCUS training in order to provide onsite training, perform and supervise POCUS imaging, and participate in quality assurance sessions. NNPs also assisted with the development of a REDCap database and imaging protocols. RESULTS:The LPCH POCUS NNP providers contributed to the advancement of the profession by practicing to the full scope of their role, providing leadership in program development, research, and education. Incorporating NNPs into the programmatic structure of a POCUS program can be a model for others. With advancing skill set, NNPs can be positioned to be national leaders and educators. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE AND RESEARCH:NICUs developing POCUS programs can benefit from the integration of NNPs to serve as consistent content experts to expand the number of trained providers while assuring the quality of image capture. POCUS is becoming increasingly essential to the care of newborns. NNPs can play a central role in performing POCUS, participating in quality improvement and research, and educating other NICU providers.

Objective: To identify weight gain trends of infants with Robin sequence (RS) treated by the Stanford Orthodontic Airway Plate treatment (SOAP). Design: Retrospective longitudinal cohort study. Setting: Single tertiary referral hospital. Patients: Eleven infants with RS treated with SOAP. Interventions Nonsurgical SOAP. Main Outcome Measures : Body weight, Weight-for-age (WFA) Z-scores, and WFA percentiles at birth (T0), SOAP delivery (T1), SOAP graduation (T2), and 12-months old (T3). Results: Between T0 and T1, the weight increased but the WFA percentile decreased from 36.5% to 15.1%, and the Z-score worsened from -0.43 to -1.44. From T1 to T2, the percentile improved to 22.55% and the Z-score to -0.94. From T2 to T3, the percentile and the Z-scores further improved to 36.59% and -0.48, respectively. Conclusions: SOAP provided infants experiencing severe respiratory distress and oral feeding difficulty with an opportunity to gain weight commensurate with the WHO healthy norms without surgical intervention.

Importance Surfactant administration may be needed in late preterm through full-term neonates, but the pathophysiology of their respiratory failure can be different from that of early preterm neonates. The lung ultrasonography score (LUS) is accurate to guide surfactant replacement in early preterm neonates, but to our knowledge, it has not yet been studied in the late preterm through full-term neonatal population. Objective To assess whether LUS is equally accurate to predict surfactant need in late preterm through full-term neonates as in early preterm neonates. Design, Setting, and Participants This prospective, international, multicenter diagnostic study was performed between December 2022 and November 2023 in tertiary academic neonatal intensive care units in France, Italy, Spain, and the US. Late preterm through full-term neonates (>= 34 weeks' gestation) with respiratory failure early after birth were enrolled. Exposure Point-of-care lung ultrasonography to calculate the neonatal LUS (range, 0-18, with higher scores indicating worse aeration), which was registered in dedicated research databases and unavailable for clinical decision-making. Main Outcomes and Measures The main outcomes were the area under the curve (AUC) in receiver operating characteristic analysis and derived accuracy variables, considering LUS as a replacement for other tests (ie, highest global accuracy) and as a triage test (ie, highest sensitivity). Sample size was calculated to assess noninferiority of LUS to predict surfactant need in the study population compared with neonates born more prematurely. Correlations of LUS with the ratio of hemoglobin oxygen saturation as measured by pulse oximetry (SpO(2)) to fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO(2)) and with the oxygen saturation index (OSI) were assessed. Results A total of 157 neonates (96 [61.1%] male) were enrolled and underwent lung ultrasonography at a median of 3 hours (IQR, 2-7 hours) of life; 32 (20.4%) needed surfactant administration (pretest probability, 20%). The AUC was 0.87 (95% CI, 0.81-0.92). The highest global accuracy and sensitivity were reached for LUS values higher than 8 or 4 or lower, respectively. Subgroup analysis gave similar diagnostic accuracy in neonates born late preterm (AUC, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.81-0.97; n = 111) and early term and later (AUC, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.73-0.96; n = 46). After adjusting for gestational age, LUS was significantly correlated with SpO(2):FiO(2) (adjusted beta, -10.4; 95% CI, -14.0 to -6.7; P < .001) and OSI (adjusted beta, 0.2; 95% CI, 0.1-0.3; P < .001). Conclusions and Relevance In this diagnostic study of late preterm through full-term neonates with respiratory failure early after birth, LUS accuracy to predict surfactant need was not inferior to that observed in earlier preterm neonates. An LUS higher than 8 was associated with highest global accuracy (replacement test), suggesting that it can be used to guide surfactant administration. An LUS value of 4 or lower was associated with the highest sensitivity (triage test), suggesting it is unlikely for this population to need surfactant.

Objectives In the adult and pediatric critical care population, point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) can aid in diagnosis, patient management, and procedural accuracy. For neonatal providers, training in ultrasound and the use of ultrasound for diagnosis and management is increasing, but use in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is still uncommon compared with other critical care fields. Our objective was to describe the process of implementing a POCUS program in a large academic NICU and evaluate the role of ultrasound in neonatal care during early adaption of this program. Study Design A POCUS program established in December 2018 included regular bedside scanning, educational sessions, and quality assurance, in collaboration with members of the cardiology, radiology, and pediatric critical care divisions. Core applications were determined, and protocols outlined guidelines for image acquisition. An online database included images and descriptive logs for each ultrasound. Results A total of 508 bedside ultrasounds (76.8% diagnostic and 23.2% procedural) were performed by 23 providers from December 2018 to December 2020 in five core diagnostic applications: umbilical line visualization, cardiac, lung, abdomen (including bladder), and cranial as well as procedural applications. POCUS guided therapy and influenced clinical management in all applications: umbilical line assessment (26%), cardiac (33%), lung (14%), abdomen (53%), and cranial (43%). With regard to procedural ultrasound, 74% of ultrasound-guided arterial access and 89% of ultrasound-guided lumbar punctures were successful. Conclusions Implementation of a POCUS program is feasible in a large academic NICU and can benefit from a team approach. Establishing a program in any NICU requires didactic opportunities, a defined scope of practice, and imaging review with quality assurance. Bedside clinician performed ultrasound findings can provide valuable information in the NICU and impact clinical management. Key Points

To determine if the lung ultrasound score (LUS) is predictive of successful continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) discontinuation in preterm neonates born <32 weeks’ gestation with history of respiratory distress syndrome. Retrospective study of preterm infants requiring CPAP. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression performed to formulate a predictive score using clinical variables with and without LUS. Area under the curve (AUC) was compared to determine the added predictive ability of LUS. Forty-one patients with discontinuation attempts associated with a LUS were included. Lower LUS obtained within 0–7 days prior to CPAP discontinuation was associated with successful CPAP discontinuation (OR 0.46 [0.23, 0.91]; p = 0.025). Cross-validated AUC for clinical variables alone (Model 1) was 0.85 (95

The duration of the majority of fellowships in pediatrics has been three-years. With increasing shortages of some outpatient-based pediatric subspecialists, shorter two-year fellowships are being considered for clinically oriented trainees not interested in a career based on research. Shortening the duration of fellowship may have some financial merits such as achieving a higher salary earlier after shorter training. However, we feel that continuing with a three-year duration for neonatology is more pragmatic at this time due to reductions in intensive care rotations during residency, time required to achieve procedural excellence, the need for exposure to quality assurance methodology, proficiency in novel techniques such as bedside ultrasound, and to maintain the physician-scientist pipeline. The demand for neonatal fellowship continues to be high. Ongoing evaluation of the job market, training needs and fellowship curriculum is needed to determine if the duration of fellowship should be altered in the future.

Family planning plays an important aspect of wellness in surgical training since most residents are in their childbearing years. However, vascular surgery trainees who plan to start a family during training face many challenges. This study is the first of its kind aiming to analyze trends in family planning in vascular surgery trainees in the United States. A cross-sectional 25-question survey on family planning and fertility preservation was distributed to current vascular surgery trainees in both 0+5 residency programs and 5+2 fellowship programs. Data were collected from the survey results and analyzed. The survey was completed by 70 vascular trainees, 81.2% of respondents were in an integrated vascular surgery residency. Of the respondents, 75.7% were between the ages of 28 and 34, 55.9% were male, 43.5% were married, and 71% did not have any children. However, 85.5% are interested in having children and 43.9% were interested in having children during residency/fellowship. A large majority of respondents have never had a lecture or discussion on parental leave policies or family planning (88.6%), and they believe there is benefit in having a lecture of this kind (86.1%). Most of the trainees believe it is important to have fertility preservation discussions as well (80.5%). In addition, 72.9% state their education/career plans will influence their decision on when to start a family. Respondents stated some of the biggest challenges faced regarding family leave policies in residency/fellowship included the social stigma of taking time off (76.8%) and increasing the work load of coworkers (76.8%). Vascular surgery training may negatively affect trainees' fertility and wellness. There is inconsistent support and lack of uniformity in family planning and parental leave in vascular surgery training programs. Fertility preservation through assisted reproductive technology has a positive role in family planning in surgical training. However, it is not discussed in medical school or in advanced training. The data collected may help us to understand issues surrounding family planning and to potentially create solutions.

Introduction Sickle cell anemia (SCA) is a hemoglobinopathy that arises from a point mutation in the beta-globin gene, which causes the polymerization of deoxygenated hemoglobin that leads to a wide variety of clinical complications. Deaths in patients with SCA most commonly arise from renal, cardiovascular disease, infections, and stroke. In-hospital cardiac arrest has been found to be more common in older patients and those on ventilatory life support, among others. This study aims to provide more insight into how SCA affects the risk of in-hospital mortality in post-cardiac arrest patients. Methods The National Inpatient Survey database years 2016 to 2019 was utilized. The International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Procedure Coding System (ICD-10 PCS) codes for cardiopulmonary resuscitation were used to identify in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) patients. ICD-10 Clinical Modification (CM) codes were used to identify SCA and other medical comorbidities. Categorical data was compared using Person's chi-square test, and continuous variables were compared using the independent samples t-test. Multinomial logistic regression was used to study the effects of SCA on post-arrest in-hospital mortality controlling for age, Charlson comorbidity score, and demographic variables. Binomial logistic regression models for dichotomous variables were utilized in the subgroup and secondary outcomes analysis. Results In patients with IHCA, patients who had SCA were found to have a significantly increased risk of in-hospital mortality adjusted for baseline characteristics and Charlson comorbidity score (OR: 1.16, 95% CI: 1.02-1.32, p=0.0025). Patient characteristics most strongly associated with an increased risk of in-hospital mortality in this cohort were found to be Black race (OR: 1.92, 95% CI: 1.87-1.97, p<0.001) and self-payer status (OR: 2.14, 95% CI: 2.06-2.22, p<0.001). Subgroup analysis revealed only patients with sickle cell disease had a statistically significant increased risk of in-hospital mortality in this cohort (OR: 4.41, 95% CI: 3.5-5.55, p<0.001), and patients with sickle cell trait did not. Conclusion In patients with IHCA, SCA is associated with an increased risk of in-hospital mortality. This risk was confined to patients with sickle cell disease and not patients with sickle cell trait.

To assess success of peripheral arterial line (PAL) placement after implementing a point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) program in a neonatal intensive care unit. This was a retrospective chart review of infants who underwent successful PAL placement from January 2019 to March 2021. Outcomes included first-attempt success and the number of attempts with and without the use of POCUS. Among 80 PALs, 36