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In this episode of Journal Club, Ben and Daphna review a thought-provoking study from the Archives of Disease in Childhood titled "Chest Compression in Newborn Infants: What Anatomical Structures Are We Compressing?". The hosts explore the anatomical findings suggesting that current neonatal CPR guidelines—recommending compressions over the lower third of the sternum—may actually be targeting the right ventricle and great veins rather than the left ventricle. They discuss the implications for the "cardiac pump" vs. "thoracic pump" theories and what this means for the future of resuscitation guidelines.

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Chest compression in newborn infants: what anatomical structures are we compressing? Chua CT, O'Reilly M, Surak A, Schmölzer GM.Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. 2026 Jan 16:fetalneonatal-2025-329582. doi: 10.1136/archdischild-2025-329582. Online ahead of print.PMID: 41545184

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As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: [email protected]. 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.

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Dr. Sheri Fink, Pulitzer Prize-winning correspondent for The New York Times and author of Five Days at Memorial, joins us for a compelling discussion on the ethics of survival. Dr. Fink, an MD-PhD, discusses her recent article "Noah is Still Here," which chronicles one family's journey with Trisomy 18—a condition once universally deemed incompatible with life. She and Eli explore the shifting paradigms of care, the tension between medical prognosis and parental hope, and the "two truths" clinicians must hold when counseling families in the grey zone. A must-listen for anyone navigating complex bioethics in the NICU.

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As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: [email protected]. 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.

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In this premiere episode of On with Von, The Incubator launches an exciting new collaboration with the Vermont Oxford Network (VON). Hosts Dr. Ben Courchia and Dr. Daphna Yasova Barbeau sit down with Dr. Roger Soll, President of VON, and Dr. Bob White, a pioneer in NICU design, to explore the critical "Evidence to Practice" gap in the NICU environment. Moving beyond simple neuroprotection, the conversation dives into neuropromotion, examining the impact of light, sound, and sensory inputs on the developing brain. From debunking misconceptions about retinopathy to optimizing design for family integration, this discussion offers actionable insights for every bedside clinician.

Support the show

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: [email protected]. 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.

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How much oxygen is enough when resuscitating extremely preterm infants? This week on The Incubator Podcast, Ben and Daphna explore the TORPIDO 30/60 trial comparing 60% versus 30% FiO2 at birth. While primary outcomes were similar, babies in the 60% group needed fewer chest compressions and less epinephrine—a signal worth discussing.

They examine an Indian non-inferiority study on surfactant thresholds (40% vs 30% FiO2), where waiting until 40% meant significantly fewer intubations and shorter respiratory support for the youngest babies. Ben presents compelling Melbourne data showing growth-restricted preterm infants face six-fold higher NEC risk—even with identical feeding protocols—and discusses how critical birth history gets "lost" as babies grow.

Daphna tackles therapeutic hypothermia in late preterm infants, reviewing Toronto's retrospective analysis showing 34-35 weekers experience higher mortality and more brain injury compared to 36-37 weekers. As units rewrite cooling protocols, are we moving too fast on limited evidence?

The episode concludes with Ben, Daphna, and Eli discussing the repeal of "sensitive locations" protections for immigration enforcement. Through the story of a mother detained while visiting her NICU baby in Chicago, they explore how these policies impact family-centered care and highlight advocacy opportunities through the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act.

Current research meets real-world NICU challenges—all in one episode.

Support the show

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: [email protected]. 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.

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In this episode of Neo News, the team examines the intersection of immigration policy and neonatal care. We review a recent op-ed discussing the "chilling effect" of immigration enforcement on families seeking care in "sensitive locations" like hospitals. The discussion highlights a harrowing report from The 19th about a family detained by ICE while en route to the NICU, sparking a conversation on how fear impacts parental presence and follow-up adherence. The hosts explore the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act and the critical role neonatologists play in advocating for safe access to healthcare for all families.

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Vernon, L., Swenson, S., & Miller, E. (2025, October). Immigration policies are creating impossible choices for NICU families. Cleveland.com.  https://www.cleveland.com/opinion/2025/10/immigration-policies-are-creating-impossible-choices-for-nicu-families-lelis-vernon-sarah-swenson-and-emily-miller.html

Barclay, M. L. (2025, December). Postpartum immigrant detention by ICE. The 19th. https://19thnews.org/2025/12/postpartum-immigrant-detention-ice/

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As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: [email protected]. 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.

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In this segment, Ben and Daphna review a retrospective study from the Hospital for Sick Children comparing outcomes of therapeutic hypothermia in late preterm (34-35 weeks) versus early term (36-37 weeks) infants. They discuss the significantly higher rates of mortality, hemodynamic instability, and hypoglycemia found in the younger cohort, known as "Group 1". The hosts explore the implications of using MRI scoring systems like the Weeke score for preterm brains and debate the ethical challenges of conducting future randomized trials as clinical practice shifts away from cooling younger babies based on emerging retrospective data.

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Whole-body hypothermia in late preterm and early term infants: a retrospective analysis from a neurocritical care unit. Martinez A, Cikman G, Al Kalaf H, Wilson D, Banh B, Abdelmageed W, Beamonte Arango I, Christensen R, Branson HM, Cizmeci MN.Pediatr Res. 2026 Jan 7. doi: 10.1038/s41390-025-04701-x. Online ahead of print.PMID: 41501407

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As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: [email protected]. 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.

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In this episode of Journal Club, Ben and Daphna review a prospective cohort study from the Journal of Perinatology that examines the care of neonates following in-utero growth restriction. The hosts unpack the critical distinction between Fetal Growth Restriction (FGR) and Small for Gestational Age (SGA), highlighting how the "decay of information" in the NICU can lead clinicians to overlook early risk factors as babies grow. They discuss the study’s alarming findings regarding the six-fold increased risk of Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC) in SGA infants and the importance of maintaining a comprehensive medical history throughout a patient's stay.

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Care of neonates following in-utero growth restriction: A prospective cohort study exploring neonatal morbidity. Alda MG, Wood AG, MacDonald T, Charlton JK.J Perinatol. 2025 Sep;45(9):1219-1225. doi: 10.1038/s41372-025-02397-9. Epub 2025 Aug 21.PMID: 40841433 Free PMC article.

Support the show

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: [email protected]. 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.

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In this episode of Journal Club, Ben and Daphna review a non-inferiority trial from the European Journal of Pediatrics exploring surfactant administration thresholds in preterm neonates. The study, conducted in India, compares a 30% versus 40% FiO2 threshold for babies 26-32 weeks gestational age. The hosts break down the counterintuitive findings regarding respiratory support duration in younger subgroups and discuss the broader implications of using rigid FiO2 heuristics versus individualized patient assessment. They also debate how resource availability influences clinical protocols and the potential benefits of "LISA" (Less Invasive Surfactant Administration) for avoiding intubation.

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Higher (40%) versus lower (30%) FiO2 threshold for surfactant administration in preterm neonates between 26 and 32 weeks of gestational age: a non-inferiority randomized controlled trial. Haq MI, Datta V, Bandyopadhyay T, Nangia S, Anand P, Murukesan VM.Eur J Pediatr. 2025 Nov 25;184(12):793. doi: 10.1007/s00431-025-06628-1.PMID: 41288797 Clinical Trial.

Support the show

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: [email protected]. 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.

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In this episode of The Incubator, Ben and Daphna return from the Delphi Conference to dive back into Journal Club. They review the highly anticipated TORPIDO 30/60 trial published in JAMA, comparing initial oxygen concentrations of 30% versus 60% for preterm resuscitation. The hosts discuss the primary outcomes of survival and brain injury, while highlighting intriguing secondary findings regarding chest compressions and epinephrine use in the delivery room. They also share exciting updates on the Vermont Oxford Network collaboration and a new family study from the GFCNI.

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Targeted Oxygen for Initial Resuscitation of Preterm Infants: The TORPIDO 30/60 Randomized Clinical Trial. Oei JL, Kirby A, Travadi J, Davis P, Wright I, Ghadge A, Yeung C, Cruz M, Keech A, Hague W, Lui K, Vento M, Gordon A, De Waal K, Chaudhari T, Hong TSL, Morris S, Kushnir A, Bonney D, Tracy M, Kumar K, Chhnia AS, Baral VR, Muniyappa P, Cheah FC, Sarnadgouda P, Rajadurai VS, Balakrishnan U, Oleti TP, Aldecoa-Bilbao V, Couce ML, Collados CT, Fernández RE, Moliner E, Ruiz Gonzalez MD, Singhal M, Agrawal G, Singh J, Pal S, Nayya S, Arora R, Amboiram P, Simes J, Tarnow-Mordi W; TORPIDO30/60 Collaborative Group.JAMA. 2025 Dec 10:e2523327. doi: 10.1001/jama.2025.23327. Online ahead of print.PMID: 41369162

Support the show

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: [email protected]. 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.

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This recording captures the AI panel discussion from the 2026 Delphi Neonatal Innovation Conference, held live on Monday afternoon. Dr. Jim Barry (University of Colorado), Dr. Thao Ho (UCSF), Lindsey Knake (University of Iowa), Selva Selvaraj (Nicklaus Children's Health System), and Dr. Ryan McAdams (University of Wisconsin-Madison) discuss where AI stands in the NICU today.

The panelists cover predictive models for sepsis and NEC, AI documentation tools, and the gap between research prototypes and clinical implementation. They address challenges with generalizability across different units, ethical considerations, parent-facing AI applications, and what might be standard practice in ten years. If you're trying to figure out what's actually working versus what's still theoretical, this conversation covers the current state of play.

Support the show

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: [email protected]. 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!