TF Fok

The last two decades have seen a rapid development in the field of neonatal intensive care. As a result of better understanding of neonatal physiology and technological advancement, many serious neonatal conditions, such as extreme prematurity, severe sepsis; severe perinatal hypoxia, and some congenital malformations are now amenable to treatment with potentially satisfactory outcome. This presentation will focus on the management of the following common neonatal problems; evidence from clinical trials and some of our own experience will be discussed: [1] Respiratory distress syndrome in preterm infants: the use of postnatal exogenous surfactant: evidence on its benefit and proper method of administration - potentially useful method of delivery such as aerosolisation will also be discussed; [2] Mechanical ventilation for neonates: recent understandings about conventional ventilation; principles and usage of high frequency oscillatory ventilation; [3] Persistent pulmonary hypertension: new modalities of treatment including the principles and usage of nitric oxide; [4] Bronchopulmonary dysplasia: prevention, treatment modalities and their controversies including those around the use of bronchodilators and steroids. There will also be discussion on miscellaneous problems such as the approach to the problem of perinatal group B streptococcal infection, patent ductus arteriosus, and other conditions.