Not ready for prime time: transitional events in the extremely preterm infant.
Successful transition from intrauterine to extrauterine life involves significant physiologic changes. The majority of these changes occur relatively quickly during those first moments following delivery; however, transition for the extremely preterm infant occurs over a longer period of time. Careful assessment and perceptive interventions on the part of neonatal care providers is essential as the extremely preterm infant adjusts to life outside the womb. This article will focus on respiratory, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and neurologic transitional events experienced by the extremely premature infant.
University of Texas Medical Branch School of Nursing, Galveston, Texas.
Debra
D
Armentrout
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D058109:Airway Management / Q000379:methods; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology*; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D062071:Infant, Extremely Premature / Q000502:physiology*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D008297:Male; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000451:nursing*; D017283:Neonatal Nursing / Q000379:methods; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013997:Time Factors