Article Text
Summary
Surgery in the neonatal period presents challenges, especially in preterm infants weighing <1 kg. Their small size, minimal reserves and physiological immaturity means attention to detail and careful monitoring is critical to avoid cardiovascular instability; maintaining fluid balance and metabolic stability is also problematic due to often limited vascular access and small blood volumes. Developments in technology have meant that cardiovascular parameters such as heart rate, blood pressure and oxygen saturations are all routinely and continuously monitored before and during surgery.
We have been exploring the role of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) for metabolic monitoring and management of glucose control in very preterm infants (24–32 weeks gestation). In this paper, we report on a preterm infant who uniquely underwent surgery while wearing a continuous glucose monitor, blinded to the clinical team. This case highlights the metabolic vulnerability of these babies and a possible role for real-time CGM during surgical procedures.
- neonatal intensive care
- neonatal and paediatric intensive care
- neonatal health
- developmental paediatrocs
- infant health
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Footnotes
Contributors PS had substantial contributions in the design and writing of the case report, with KB responsible for the identification of the patient, the conception of the work and its drafting.
Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors
Competing interests None declared.
Patient consent Parental/guardian consent obtained.
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.