The authors report two cases of sudden unexpected cardiorespiratory arrest occurring in a normal newborn nursery. They discuss the impact on the families and hospital personnel. The nursing and medical staff demonstrated many of the reactions experienced by families of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) victims, including shock, anger, guilt, disbelief, fear, and doubt. The manner in which hospital personnel were supported and counseled is discussed. Specific clinical implications of these cases, including the need to provide for appropriate monitoring and resuscitation in normal newborn nurseries, are presented.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Shannon DC, Kelly DHSIDS and near-SIDS (First of Two Parts). N Engl J Med1982;306:959—65.
2.
Shannon DC, Kelly DHSIDS and near-SIDS (Second of Two Parts). N Engl J Med1982;306:1022-8.
3.
Kelly DH, Shannon DCSudden infant death syndrome and near sudden infant death syndrome: a review of the literature, 1964 to 1982. Pediatr Clin North Am1982;29:1241-61.
4.
Friedman JGPsychologic aspects of sudden unexpected death in infants and children. Pediatr Clin North Am1974;21:102-11.
5.
Smialek Z.Observations on immediate reactions of families to sudden infant death. Pediatrics1978;62:160-5.
6.
Kennel JH, Slyter H., Klaus M.The mourning response of parents to the death of a newborn infant. N Engl J Med1970;283:344-9.
7.
Peterson DR, Beckwith JBThe sudden infant death syndrome in hospitalized babies. Pediatrics1974;54:644-6.
8.
Friedman GR, Franciosi RA, Drake RMThe effect of observed sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) on hospital staff . Pediatrics1979;64:538—40.
9.
Polberger J. , Svenningsen NWEarly neonatal sudden infant death and near death of full-term infants in maternity wards. Acta Paediatr Scand1985; 74:861-6.
10.
Marshall RE, Kasman C., Cape LSCoping with caring for sick newborns. New York: W. B. Saunders, 1982.
11.
Lake M., Knuppel R., Murphy J., Johnson T.The role of a grief support team following stillbirth. Am J Obstet Gynecol1983;146:877-81.
12.
Kirk EPPsychological effects and management of perinatal loss. Am J Obstet Gynecol1984; 149:46-51.
13.
Harmon RJ, Glicken AD, Siegel RANeonatal loss in the intensive care nursery: effects of maternal grieving and a program for intervention. J Am Acad Child Psychiatry1984;23(1):68-71.
14.
Schmidt C.Emotional stress in the NICU. Perinatology-Neonatology1977;1:37-44.
