title: [The well-being of the newborn infant in neonatal intensive care].
abstract: Patients referred to Neonatal Intensive Care Units are particularly vulnerable because they are in a critical or sensitive period of development. When physicians were first able to really save preemies 40 years ago, not much thought was given to their brain development. The babies we care for are so early that the brain cells are still migrating to where they will finally rest in developed brain. We are shaped, to an extent, by our environment. In early life, the environment takes on a particularly important role. So treatments may over-stimulate areas of the brain with unknown consequences. For this reason minimally invasive treatments together with attention to the environment will favour a care developmentally appropriate for pre-term babies. Use of nasalCPAP, early rescue surfactant, synchronized mechanical ventilation, together with temperature, light and noise control could help to obtain these results. Pain control, music therapy, massage, kangaroo care and a family centred care are essential to optimize results obtained from the intensive care.
authors.affiliation: UO Neonatologia, AOU Policlinico Sant'Orsola-Malpighi, Bologna.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ancora
mesh_terms: D000698:Analgesia / Q000379:methods; D001921:Brain / Q000254:growth & development; D001997:Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia / Q000517:prevention & control; D045422:Continuous Positive Airway Pressure / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D015931:Intensive Care, Neonatal / Q000379:methods*; D008027:Light / Q000009:adverse effects; D008029:Lighting / Q000379:methods; D008405:Massage; D009147:Music Therapy; D009622:Noise / Q000009:adverse effects; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011187:Posture; D013696:Temperature