Special
NICU Programs
LUNG RESCUE
Our most advanced conventional
and
high frequency mobile ICU transport systems.
Newborns
with life-threatening lung disorders may need specialized care
and equipment. Our neonatal service provides the highest level
of support in the region including transport inhaled nitric oxide,
transport as well as hospital based high frequency ventilation,
and ECMO (extracorporeal
membrane oxygenation).
Our faculty members have been leaders in the development of high-tech,
advanced respiratory support for newborns with respiratory failure
also known as persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn,
that may be refractory to conventional medical therapy. If a baby,
who is greater than 34 weeks gestation at birth with respiratory
failure, still does not respond to advanced support we provide
ECMO. ECMO in most cases is a life-saving technique in which a
heart-lung bypass system, circulating and oxygenating blood outside
the body, allows the lung and heart of the baby to recover, even
if the bypass is needed for days to weeks. A highly skilled neonatal,
critical care and surgical team, as well as ECMO certified nurses
are required for this lifesaving therapy.
HIGH
FREQUENCY TRANSPORT VENTILATION
Unique Geographic Significance - Our new transport system,
the only one in the north east corridor, offers the best form
of lung support on transport.
Many of our extremely premature neonates and sick term neonates
benefit from a highly effective, but gentle form of ventilation.
Conventional-rate ventilation requires high pressures and large
volumes of fresh air which can tear at an already weak lung. High-frequency
ventilation allows us to introduce fast but small gentle puffs
of fresh air into the lungs using very low pressures. We use upwards
of 600 breaths in a minute. This permits the lung to function
without injury from high pressures. Until recently we could only
offer it in the Neonatal ICU's of our major medical centers. We
now have the capability of bringing this health promoting form
of ventilation on transport. We can transport even our most challenged
neonates on the best form of ventilation. We can move within or
outside our hospitals.
BRAIN RESCUE
A
very difficult birth process may decrease a baby's oxygen flow.
Sometimes severe oxygen deprivation can to lead to brain damage.
Rapid but controlled brain and body cooling is sometimes able
to prevent cerebral palsy, a form of brain damage. We are among
the most experienced regional brain rescue centers. We participated
in research demonstrating the benefit of brain cooling to help
prevent hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (a form of brain damage
which often leads to cerebral palsy). The success of the research
allows us to use this newly FDA approved selective brain cooling
therapy for newborns who may have been exposed to low oxygen levels
during the birth process.
Brain cooling patient, dad and
team members.
CARDIOVASCULAR
SURGERY
The division of pediatric cardiac surgery at SCH is one of the
largest volume pediatric cardiac programs in New York State, and
the largest on Long Island. It is the primary center for pediatric
cardiac surgical care in the North Shore-LIJ health system, one
of the largest not for profit health systems in the country. The
division performs approximately 300 cardiac and thoracic procedures
per year.
Link to SCH
Cardiac Surgery
Specialized pediatric operating room team
preparing for minimally invasive surgery
NONINVASIVE
PEDIATRIC SURGERY
Our surgeons can provide state-of-the-art minimally
invasive surgery for some neonates who benefit from decreased
post-operative pain and complications, very small incisions with
little or no scarring, a faster recovery time, and a shorter stay
in the hospital. For more information … link to Mini-Incision
Surgery Center
PEDIATRIC SURGICAL FELLOWSHIP
PROGRAM.
Our Pediatric Surgery Fellows and Staff are intimately involved
with the preoperative evaluation and postoperative care of our
challenged neonates who require surgery. The robust volume and
a full spectrum of surgical patients keep our skills sharp and
improve our outcome patterns.
NEWBORN SIMULATOR FOR RESUSCITATION TRAINING.
We have recently acquired the most advance computer
modeled resuscitation training equipment. This will allow us to
develop and maintain our advanced resuscitation skills to better
serve our patients.
Computerized neonatal resuscitation simulator
in action.
CURRENT
CLINICAL TRIALS:
1. Human milk-based nutrition study. Compare the enteral tolerance
patterns of human milk-based nutrition to cow milk based nutrition.
2.
High Frequency Jet Ventilation for Evolving Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia.
Pilot for a larger study to determine weather the HFJV is better
than other forms of slow or fast-rate ventilation to treat small
babies who may get a lung scaring disease called bronchopulmonary
dysplasia.
3. Neonatal Candidiasis Treatment Study. Treatment of neonatal
fungal infections can be difficult and has potential side effects
with current treatments. We will participate in a Multi-Center
Phase 3 Study to compare the efficacy and safety of the novel
new drug in comparison to current therapy, amphotericin B deoxycholate
(CAB), in the treatment of proven neonatal candidiasis and to
further evaluate the pharmacokinetics of both drug regimens in
this patient population.
