Polycythemia in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Risk Factors, Symptoms, Pattern, and Management Controversy

BACKGROUND: Polycythemia (PC) is defined as venous hematocrit (hct) ≥65%.( ) Its incidence is high among certain risk factors (RFs). Its management is controversy. AIMS: To determine: (1) The incidence of PC in our neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). (2) Most common RF, symptoms, and laboratory abnormalities (LA) associated with PC and their effect on the length of hospital stay (LOS). (3) Whether noninvasive interventions are effective in reducing hct. (4) Hct pattern of PC neonates. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: NICU at a maternity and children hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Records review of all neonates from March 2011 to August 2013. Inclusions criteria were: (1) Venous hct ≥65%. (2) Neonates born in our institution. (3) Early umbilical cord clamping. (4) Gestational age ≥34 weeks. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Chi-square and multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: One hundred and one PC neonates were eligible. Incidence of PC in our NICU is 14.5%. The most common RF, symptoms, and LA were: Small for gestational age, jaundice and hypoglycemia respectively. Tachypnea ( P - 0.04) and oliguria (P - 0.03) significantly prolonged LOS. Noninvasive interventions or observation could not reduce the hct significantly (P - 0.24). The hcts mean peaked maximally at a mean of 2.8 h of age. CONCLUSION: PC incidence in our NICU is higher than the reported incidence in healthy newborns. Most of the PC neonates were either symptomatic or having LA. Noninvasive interventions or observation were not effective in reducing hct in polycythemic neonates. Hct in both healthy and PC neonates peaked at the same pattern.