The Incubator's Journal Club – Détails, épisodes et analyse

In this episode of Journal Club, Ben and Daphna review a retrospective cohort study from the Journal of Perinatology examining the association between NICU capacity strain and neonatal outcomes. We discuss how high census and acuity on admission day correlate with increased mortality and morbidity when adjusted for hospital and patient factors. Join us as we explore why being "slammed with admissions" is more than just a badge of honor—it’s a critical safety metric for our patients.

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The association of NICU capacity strain with neonatal mortality and morbidity. Salazar EG, Passarella M, Formanowski B, Rogowski J, Edwards EM, Halpern SD, Phibbs C, Lorch SA.J Perinatol. 2025 Dec;45(12):1801-1808. doi: 10.1038/s41372-025-02449-0. Epub 2025 Oct 20.PMID: 41116036 Free PMC article.

Support the show

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below.

Enjoy!

In this episode of The Incubator Podcast, Ben and Daphna review a pivotal population-based study from Norway examining a new approach to Early-Onset Sepsis (EOS). The hosts discuss whether serial physical examinations can safely replace routine antibiotic prophylaxis in at-risk term and late-preterm infants. With antibiotic exposure often far exceeding sepsis incidence, this study offers compelling data for a "less is more" strategy. Tune in as Ben and Daphna explore the safety, efficacy, and bedside implications of substituting automatic treatment with structured clinical monitoring—and what this means for reducing unnecessary interventions in the NICU.

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Serial physical examination to reduce unnecessary antibiotic exposure in newborn infants: a population-based study. Vatne A, Eriksen BHH, Bergqvist F, Fagerli I, Guthe HJT, Iversen KV, Ud Din FS, van der Weijde J, Kvaløy JT, Rettedal S.Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. 2025 Nov 19:fetalneonatal-2025-329639. doi: 10.1136/archdischild-2025-329639. Online ahead of print.PMID: 41260908

Support the show

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below.

Enjoy!

Maternal Psychological Distress Before and After Childbirth and Neurodevelopmental Delay in Toddlers.

Matsumura K, Tanaka T, Kuroda M, Tsuchida A, Hatakeyama T, Kasamatsu H, Inadera H; Japan Environment and Children’s Study Group.JAMA Netw Open. 2025 Oct 1;8(10):e2540907. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.40907.PMID: 41171271 Free PMC article.

Support the show

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below.

Enjoy!

In this episode of The Incubator’s Journal Club, hosts Ben and Daphna open with exciting announcements, including details on the upcoming Delphi Neonatal Innovation Conference and new video content for their “Beyond the Beeps” series on YouTube. They also share updates on the Board Review Podcast, geared toward both board preparation and ongoing learning in neonatology.

The team’s first paper discussion highlights the ECLA trial from The Lancet, which examines higher versus lower CPAP levels for extubating extremely preterm infants. Ben and Daphna explore how higher CPAP may decrease extubation failure and the implications for clinical practice. Next, they review a large population-based study on intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), underscoring the persistently high rates of IVH in very preterm infants and emphasizing its impact on neurodevelopmental outcomes.

They then welcome guest speaker Dr. Tim Barr from the University of Utah, who introduces the concept of end-tidal carbon monoxide monitoring as a noninvasive tool for detecting hemolysis and guiding bilirubin management. Dr. Barr explains how this method may help clinicians identify and treat high-risk neonates earlier. The discussion closes with a look at recent data on early hydrocortisone use in neonatal shock and a paper examining discrepancies between parental and medical classifications of neurodevelopmental impairment. Through in-depth research reviews and expert commentary, this episode showcases The Incubator’s commitment to advancing neonatal care.

Support the show

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below.

Enjoy!

Parental and Medical Classification of Neurodevelopment in Children Born Preterm.

Richter LL, Janvier A, Pearce R, Bourque CJ, Church PT, Luu TM, Synnes A.Pediatrics. 2025 Feb 1;155(2):e2024066148. doi: 10.1542/peds.2024-066148.PMID: 39786567

Support the show

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below.

Enjoy!

Early hydrocortisone verses placebo in neonatal shock- a double blind Randomized controlled trial.

Dudeja S, Saini SS, Sundaram V, Dutta S, Sachdeva N, Kumar P.J Perinatol. 2025 Feb 13. doi: 10.1038/s41372-025-02222-3. Online ahead of print.PMID: 39948354

Support the show

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below.

Enjoy!

Improvement Initiative: End-Tidal Carbon Monoxide Measurement in Newborns Receiving Phototherapy.

Bahr TM, Shakib JH, Stipelman CH, Kawamoto K, Lauer S, Christensen RD.J Pediatr. 2021 Nov;238:168-173.e2. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2021.07.008. Epub 2021 Jul 11.PMID: 34260896

Support the show

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below.

Enjoy!

Intraventricular Hemorrhage and Survival, Multimorbidity, and Neurodevelopment.

Rees P, Gale C, Battersby C, Williams C, Carter B, Sutcliffe A.JAMA Netw Open. 2025 Jan 2;8(1):e2452883. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.52883.PMID: 39761048 

Support the show

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below.

Enjoy!

Higher versus lower nasal continuous positive airway pressure for extubation of extremely preterm infants in Australia (ÉCLAT): a multicentre, randomised, superiority trial.

Kidman AM, Manley BJ, Boland RA, Malhotra A, Donath SM, Beker F, Davis PG, Bhatia R.Lancet Child Adolesc Health. 2023 Dec;7(12):844-851. doi: 10.1016/S2352-4642(23)00235-3. Epub 2023 Oct 27.PMID: 38240784 Clinical Trial.

Support the show

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below.

Enjoy!

In this episode of Journal Club, Ben and Daphna are back in the studio for a lively discussion on the latest neonatal research. They start by highlighting upcoming conferences, including the BPD Collaborative meeting, before diving into a mix of clinical and policy-driven studies shaping neonatal care.

They explore a JAMA Pediatrics study on the risk of apnea following two-month vaccinations in preterm infants, discussing how these findings impact vaccine counseling in the NICU. Next, they examine research on the link between pregnancy-induced hypertension and neonatal thrombocytopenia, offering insights into how maternal conditions affect early lab values and bleeding risks.

The episode also features an EBNEO segment with Dr. Srishti Jayakumar and Dr. Sarah DeMauro, covering a Brazilian randomized trial on parent-guided developmental interventions for very low birth weight infants. The findings reveal significant improvements in motor and language outcomes, reinforcing the power of early parental involvement.

Finally, they tackle the debate on NICU volume and outcomes, analyzing data that suggests higher-volume centers may improve mortality and morbidity rates—but with important caveats.

Packed with critical analysis, debate, and practical insights, this Journal Club episode is one you won’t want to miss!

Support the show

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below.

Enjoy!