Oman

Care for premature babies in focus

 
Muscat: A two-day conference on 'Advances in the care of Preemies', involving all medical staff in care of preterm infants, is being held at Intercity Hotel.

Neonatologist, Senior consultant Dr Hilal Khamis Al Mandhari at Sultan Qaboos Iniversity Hospital said, “The conference is focusing on bringing light to the challenges and the care premature infants need.

These babies have complications because their organs are not fully developed and they would require respiratory support and other care.

So in this conference we are looking at the new developments focusing on respiratory care, nutritional support, developmental care and the support they need when the infants need to be transferred to another hospital.”

The speakers and attendees were neonatologists, pediatricians, residents, nurses and other allied health professionals, medical and nursing students.

Dr Marwa Al Balushi, Consultant Neonatologist, said during her presentation on Neuro developmental delays that some of the risk factors are confirmed neonatal sepsis, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, antenatal steroids not given, postnatal steroids, necrostising enterocolitis requiring surgery, retinopathy of prematurity requiring treatment, small for gestational age and multiple pregnancies.

The impact on the baby is development delays, cognitive impairments, motor disabilities, neurodevelopmental disorders.