Research Article

Prenatal Substance Abuse: a 1-Year Single-Center Experience at a Tertiary Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Volume: 18 Number: 1 January 10, 2024
TR EN

Prenatal Substance Abuse: a 1-Year Single-Center Experience at a Tertiary Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Abstract

Objective: Eight newborns diagnosed with prenatal substance abuse were evaluated for the clinical course of neonatal abstinence syndrome depending on the type of substances used by their mothers during pregnancy. Material and Methods: A retrospective study of neonates with prenatal substance abuse admitted to our tertiary care university hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) was conducted between February 2022 and March 2023. Demographic data, withdrawal symptoms, need for pharmacological treatment, and duration of hospitalization were collected. Newborns exposed to substances were divided into two groups: opioid and non-opioid (methamphetamine, Bonsai, marijuana). Results: Eight infants were included in the study. Four cases (50%) were in the group exposed to opioids. Pregnant users of opioids were older (28±6.73) than non-opioid substance users (21±4.83). The mean birth weight of newborns exposed to opioids (2541 g) was lower than that of the non-opioid group (3020 g). The average length of hospital stay was longer in the opioid group (34 days) compared to the non-opioid group (10 days). All newborns exposed to substances were born preterm (<37 gestational weeks). Withdrawal symptoms were observed in all cases in the opioid group and three cases in the non-opioid group to varying degrees. Medical treatment was required in three out of the seven cases with withdrawal symptoms. All patients requiring treatment were in the opioid group. All infants were discharged in good health. Conclusion: Substance exposure during the prenatal period is a significant cause of preterm birth in neonates. Many of these substances can cause varying degrees of withdrawal syndrome in newborns. Replacement therapies used during pregnancy containing heroin and naloxone can lead to a more severe, prolonged, and treatment-requiring neonatal withdrawal syndrome than other substances. In cases where morphine and methadone are unavailable, the symptoms of withdrawal syndrome can be managed with phenobarbital. It is crucial to monitor all newborns with prenatal exposure to substances early because it allows for appropriate intervention and treatment.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

none

References

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  3. NIDA. References. National Institute on Drug Abuse website. https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/substance-use-in-women/references. October 14, 2022 Accessed December 9, 2022
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  5. Kocherlakota P. Neonatal abstinence syndrome. Pediatrics 2014;134: e547–61.
  6. Hudak ML, Tan RC; Commıttee On Drugs; Commıttee On Fetus And Newborn; American Academy of Pediatrics. Neonatal drug withdrawal. Pediatrics 2012;129:e540-60.
  7. Unodc - Unıted Natıons Offıce On Drugs And Crıme. 2019. World drug report 2019. Nova York: United Nations. Available from: https://www.unodc.org/wdr2019/index. html. Assesed 06 March 2023.
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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Clinical Sciences

Journal Section

Research Article

Early Pub Date

October 9, 2023

Publication Date

January 10, 2024

Submission Date

April 17, 2023

Acceptance Date

August 23, 2023

Published in Issue

Year 2024 Volume: 18 Number: 1

APA
Doğan, N. N., & Salihoğlu, Ö. (2024). Prenatal Substance Abuse: a 1-Year Single-Center Experience at a Tertiary Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Türkiye Çocuk Hastalıkları Dergisi, 18(1), 7-12. https://doi.org/10.12956/tchd.1284603
AMA
1.Doğan NN, Salihoğlu Ö. Prenatal Substance Abuse: a 1-Year Single-Center Experience at a Tertiary Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Turkish J Pediatr Dis. 2024;18(1):7-12. doi:10.12956/tchd.1284603
Chicago
Doğan, Nazan Neslihan, and Özgül Salihoğlu. 2024. “Prenatal Substance Abuse: A 1-Year Single-Center Experience at a Tertiary Neonatal Intensive Care Unit”. Türkiye Çocuk Hastalıkları Dergisi 18 (1): 7-12. https://doi.org/10.12956/tchd.1284603.
EndNote
Doğan NN, Salihoğlu Ö (January 1, 2024) Prenatal Substance Abuse: a 1-Year Single-Center Experience at a Tertiary Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Türkiye Çocuk Hastalıkları Dergisi 18 1 7–12.
IEEE
[1]N. N. Doğan and Ö. Salihoğlu, “Prenatal Substance Abuse: a 1-Year Single-Center Experience at a Tertiary Neonatal Intensive Care Unit”, Turkish J Pediatr Dis, vol. 18, no. 1, pp. 7–12, Jan. 2024, doi: 10.12956/tchd.1284603.
ISNAD
Doğan, Nazan Neslihan - Salihoğlu, Özgül. “Prenatal Substance Abuse: A 1-Year Single-Center Experience at a Tertiary Neonatal Intensive Care Unit”. Türkiye Çocuk Hastalıkları Dergisi 18/1 (January 1, 2024): 7-12. https://doi.org/10.12956/tchd.1284603.
JAMA
1.Doğan NN, Salihoğlu Ö. Prenatal Substance Abuse: a 1-Year Single-Center Experience at a Tertiary Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Turkish J Pediatr Dis. 2024;18:7–12.
MLA
Doğan, Nazan Neslihan, and Özgül Salihoğlu. “Prenatal Substance Abuse: A 1-Year Single-Center Experience at a Tertiary Neonatal Intensive Care Unit”. Türkiye Çocuk Hastalıkları Dergisi, vol. 18, no. 1, Jan. 2024, pp. 7-12, doi:10.12956/tchd.1284603.
Vancouver
1.Nazan Neslihan Doğan, Özgül Salihoğlu. Prenatal Substance Abuse: a 1-Year Single-Center Experience at a Tertiary Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Turkish J Pediatr Dis. 2024 Jan. 1;18(1):7-12. doi:10.12956/tchd.1284603

Cited By


The publication language of Turkish Journal of Pediatric Disease is English.


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