[Practice for insulin infusion in preterm infants].
Transient neonatal hyperglycemia is commonly observed during the first week of life in the preterm infants less than 30 weeks of gestational age. Continuous insulin infusion is an effective treatment in this situation.


OBJECTIVE
To ascertain how insulin is administered in different french neonatal intensive care units.


METHODS
We surveyed 49 neonatal intensive care units with a questionnaire. Response rate was 77.5% (38/49).


RESULTS
Thirty four of 38 neonatal intensive care units reported the use of insulin infusions in this setting. Glucose level indicating insulin therapy and the initial insulin doses were quite variable according to the different units (respectively 7-16.5 mmol/l and 0.01-0.1 U/kg/h). A range of minimal insulin concentrations was used (0.01-0.1 U/ml), 57% utilizing concentration between 0.05 and 0.2 U/ml. Flow rates below 0.3 ml/h were used at time by 76%. Albumin was rarely added. Fifty seven percent of the neonatal intensive care units took counter-measures such as preconditioning and flushing the tubing to control insulin loss due to adsorption. The counter-measures were differently applied. Despite these measures, hyperglycemia and insulin resistance were frequently observed (respectively 30% and 47%). The different practices are discussed according to the literature.


CONCLUSIONS
In order to deliver insulin reliably, we suggest an insulin delivery method for the preterm infants.
Mitanchez-Mokhtari
D
D
Service de réanimation pédiatrique et néonatale, hôpital Necker-Enfants-Malades, AP-HP, 149-161, rue de Sèvres, 75743 Paris cedex 15, France. delphine.mitanchez@nck.ap-hop-paris.fr <delphine.mitanchez@nck.ap-hop-paris.fr>
Walter-Nicolet
E
E
Farges
C
C
Egrot
F
F
Tréluyer
J M
JM
Hubert
P
P
D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007328:Insulin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin