Posted: January 30th, 2023
Case Study: You are called to a postpartum room and find Michael, a two-hour-old infant, irritable and spitting up copious amounts of formula. You do not know the maternal history, so you advise the mother that you would like to return the baby to the nursery for assessment and monitoring. In the medical record, you focus on the prenatal history and find the mother had an addiction to opioids with her last pregnancy but denied drug use with this pregnancy. You witness the baby having some significant tremors, vital signs: T (axillary) – 36.0, RR- 78, HR- 166, and the infant is alert, irritable, and does not console easily. The infant is constantly moving and sucking vigorously on the pacifier.
At least 120 words and address all questions. Thank you.
SOLUTION
What is your next step?
Your next step would be to consult with the pediatrician and inform them of the findings. A neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS) should be considered and the baby should be evaluated and treated accordingly. The infant’s symptoms and vital signs suggest that the infant is experiencing NOWS, which requires prompt recognition and treatment to minimize morbidity and mortality. The pediatrician may order a test to confirm the presence of opioids in the baby’s system and initiate a treatment plan, which may include pharmacotherapy and supportive care.
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