Management of Common Newborn Emergencies

Abstract

Patients in the neonatal period can present in the emergency department with many life-threatening conditions.Knowledge of these presentations by physicians that work in the emergency department is mandatory for the immediate approach of the critically ill infant. It is the responsibility of the emergency department team to identify these conditions and to stablish the best approach; this includes stabilization of the patient, differential diagnosis based, laboratory and images findings; and a well guided treatment. Serious bacterial infections, congenital cardiac disease, gastro intestinal emergencies (including malrotation with midgut volvulus and necrotizing enterocolitis), respiratory conditions, neurologic disorders and child abuse are the most common diagnosis in this type of scenarios. The main objective of this article is to review the most common conditions of the critical ill infant in the emergency department.