Neonatology (care of critically ill newborns)

Critically ill newborns require special treatment. The doctors, nurses and counselors on the UK Neonatology team specialize in the treatment of the unique problems faced by at-risk newborns and babies born early, or 'preemies'.

An experienced team of social workers and counselors work with families to help them deal with the crisis, and it doesn't end when a newborn leaves the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). We provide comprehensive follow-up care plan to help families with the challenges of caring for a high-risk newborn. We also have facilities and programs designed to help children with developmental problems and abnormalities.

Areas of interest or research:

• Asphyxia
• Breastfeeding
• Calcium metabolism
• Congenital defects
• Glucose regulation in newborns
• Neonatal immunology
• Neonatal nutrition
• Parenting
• Perinatal aspiration syndromes
• Perinatal metabolism
• Pulmonary function testing in newborns
• Respiratory distress syndrome

Programs

• Neonatal Outreach Training program for nurses in hospitals throughout the region
• Neonatal intensive care unit provides Level III care
• NICU Graduate Multidisciplinary clinic for follow up of neonatal infants after they leave the NICU
• Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

The NICU is a 66-bed unit providing Level III and intermediate care for the newborn. It provides a neonatal transport team that utilizes the Kentucky Children's Hospital ambulance, a mobile neonatal unit, and serves as a regional neonatal transport center serving Eastern and Central Kentucky.

Our NICU is fully equipped with state-of-the-art technology to give every at-risk newborn the best possible care. Patient care strategies within the NICU include infant therapy and high frequency ventilation for preemies with breathing disorders.

Our team utilizes both a ground and air transport system to bring patients to our intensive care environment. Approximately 40 percent of birthing mothers at the UK Hospital are considered high risk; 20 percent of their infants are low birth weight and are admitted to the NICU. About 50 percent of the NICU admissions come from our own delivery service. The remainder of our infants are transported by the nurse clinician Neonatal Transport Team.

Neonatal Transport by Kentucky Kids Crew

The neonatal transport team utilizes the Kentucky Children's Hospital ambulance, a mobile neonatal unit, and serves as a regional neonatal transport center serving Eastern and Central Kentucky. Infants with low birth weight are brought immediately to our NICU by helicopter or ambulance. An experienced team of nurses and doctors who specialize in caring for high-risk newborns travel with every patient, so help is always close by.

Health care providers: For neonatal transportation, call UK•MDs toll free at 1-800-888-5533.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is performed by neonatologists at Kentucky Children's Hospital. Newborns from all over the region are transported to our NICU by our Neonatal Emergency Transport Service.  For more information, go to our ECMO page.

When an newborn is in respiratory distress, sometimes the best option for saving the child's life is an advanced treatment using an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) machine. During the procedure, blood is drained from the infant's body through tubes. The blood is then oxygenated and the carbon dioxide is removed. The blood is warmed and then returned to the body through more tubes. With the ECMO machine doing the work of the infant's heart and lungs, the underdeveloped organs are given time to heal.