Use of Oral Vitamin K for Prevention of Late Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding in Neonates When Injectable Vitamin K is Not Available

2012 ◽  
Vol 46 (6) ◽  
pp. 879-883 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather J Ipema
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin K ◽  
Vitamin K Deficiency ◽  
Oral Vitamin ◽  
Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding ◽  
K Deficiency

Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding: An Ounce of Prevention

2020 ◽  
Vol 39 (6) ◽  
pp. 356-362
Author(s):  
Christopher McPherson
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin K ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Intramuscular Injection ◽  
Vitamin K Deficiency ◽  
Oral Vitamin ◽  
Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding ◽  
Neonatal Pain ◽  
Single Intramuscular Injection ◽  
Clotting Cascade ◽  
K Deficiency

Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin essential for the formation of factors in the clotting cascade. Newborns are born with insufficient levels of vitamin K, resulting in high risk for vitamin K deficiency bleeding (VKDB). Vitamin K deficiency bleeding can occur in the first week of life (“classic” VKDB) and also between 2 weeks and 3 months of age (“late” VKDB). Vitamin K deficiency bleeding can present as bleeding in the skin or gastrointestinal tract, with as many as half of affected neonates experiencing intracranial bleeding. A single intramuscular injection of vitamin K effectively prevents both classic and late VKDB. Although intramuscular vitamin K is safe and effective, VKDB has reemerged because of decreased utilization. Parents refuse intramuscular vitamin K for a variety of reasons, including a disproven association with childhood cancer, the desire to avoid exposure to additives, and valid concerns about early neonatal pain. Many parents request oral vitamin K, an inferior alternative strategy that requires multiple doses utilizing products not designed for neonatal oral administration. In this setting, health care professionals must understand the epidemiology of VKDB and compassionately counsel parents to assuage concerns. Delivery of intramuscular vitamin K to all newborns remains a public health imperative, benefitting thousands of infants annually.

scholarly journals Belgian Consensus Recommendations to Prevent Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding in the Term and Preterm Infant

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 4109
Author(s):  
Simon Fiesack ◽  
Anne Smits ◽  
Maissa Rayyan ◽  
Karel Allegaert ◽  
Philippe Alliet ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin K ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Vitamin K Deficiency ◽  
Oral Vitamin ◽  
Prophylactic Regimen ◽  
Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding ◽  
Vitamin K Prophylaxis ◽  
Dosing Regimens ◽  
Parental Refusal ◽  
K Deficiency

Neonatal vitamin K prophylaxis is essential to prevent vitamin K deficiency bleeding (VKDB) with a clear benefit compared to placebo. Various routes (intramuscular (IM), oral, intravenous (IV)) and dosing regimens were explored. A literature review was conducted to compare vitamin K regimens on VKDB incidence. Simultaneously, information on practices was collected from Belgian pediatric and neonatal departments. Based on the review and these practices, a consensus was developed and voted on by all co-authors and heads of pediatric departments. Today, practices vary. In line with literature, the advised prophylactic regimen is 1 or 2 mg IM vitamin K once at birth. In the case of parental refusal, healthcare providers should inform parents of the slightly inferior alternative (2 mg oral vitamin K at birth, followed by 1 or 2 mg oral weekly for 3 months when breastfed). We recommend 1 mg IM in preterm <32 weeks, and the same alternative in the case of parental refusal. When IM is perceived impossible in preterm <32 weeks, 0.5 mg IV once is recommended, with a single additional IM 1 mg dose when IV lipids are discontinued. This recommendation is a step towards harmonizing vitamin K prophylaxis in all newborns.

scholarly journals Neonatal Prophylaxis: Prevention of Vitamin K Deficiency Haemorrhage and Neonatal Ophthalmia / Neonatalna Profilaksa: Preprečevanje Krvavitev Zaradi Pomanjkanja Vitamina K in Neonatalne Oftalmije

2015 ◽  
Vol 54 (3) ◽  
pp. 184-193 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anita Jug Došler ◽  
Petra Petročnik ◽  
Ana Polona Mivšek ◽  
Teja Zakšek ◽  
Metka Skubic
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin K ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Descriptive Statistics ◽  
Vitamin K Deficiency ◽  
Oral Vitamin ◽  
Gluteal Muscle ◽  
Eye Infections ◽  
K Deficiency ◽  
Routine Procedures ◽  
Written Informed Consent

Abstract Introduction. The aim of the study was to explore two aspects of neonatal prophylaxis: the application of the vitamin K injection to the newborns and the prophylaxis against chlamydial and gonococcal eye infections, comparing Slovenian and Croatian practices. Methods. A causal non-experimental method of quantitative empirical approach was used. The data was collected by means of predesigned questionnaires. The questionnaires were sent to 14 Slovenian and 32 Croatian birth hospitals. The data wasanalysed with descriptive statistics and the Kullback test. Results. Vitamin K is applied to all newborns in 9 (out of 14) Slovene and 22 (out of 32) Croatian birth hospitals that returned the questionnaire. The prophylaxis against chlamydial gonococcal eye infections is applied to all newborns in 9 Slovene and 16 Croatian birth hospitals that offered answers to the questionnaire. The majority of Slovene and Croatian birth hospitals perform these procedures in the first hour after birth. The majority of Slovene birth hospitals still apply vitamin K in the gluteal muscle, whereas the majority of Croatian birth hospitals usually use the thigh as an injection site. In Slovenia, 1 % Targesin is used for the prophylaxis against chlamydial and gonococcal eye infections, whereas in Croatia the prevailing medicine is Erythromycin. Conclusions. The possibility of oral vitamin K application should be offered to parents, and pain management in practice should be discussed. The form of written informed consent could be offered to parents. Health professionals should provide intimacy and exclude routine procedures in the first couple of hours after birth. However, more research is needed as delayed administration might be related to lower efficacy and, as a consequence of that, the safety of newborns is questionable.

scholarly journals Intracranial Hemorrhage Caused by Vitamin K Deficiency Beyond Neonatal Period

2017 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 104-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sudhir Adhikari ◽  
Eva Gauchan ◽  
Tejesh Malla ◽  
Brijesh Sathian ◽  
Kalipatanam Seshagiri Rao
Keyword(s):  
Intracranial Hemorrhage ◽  
Vitamin K ◽  
Neonatal Period ◽  
National Policy ◽  
Vitamin K Deficiency ◽  
Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding ◽  
Vitamin K Prophylaxis ◽  
Clinical Presentations ◽  
Intracranial Bleed ◽  
K Deficiency

Vitamin K deficiency bleeding (VKDB) can manifest as intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) and is still prevalent in poor resource countries. Infants aged one to twelve months with the diagnosis of ICH from 1st July 2011 to 30th June 2016 were included. There were 16 cases of ICH attributed to vitamin K deficiency. Clinical presentations were anemia16 (100%), bulged fontanel 13(81.3%), seizures 10(62.5%), vomiting 8(50%) and fever 9(56.3%). Mean INR at admission was 8.575±7.267 and 1.868±0.838 after three doses of vitamin K administration. Sites of intracranial bleed were parenchymal 5(31.3%), subdural 4(25%), extradural 2(12.5%), ventricular 2(12.5%). In 3(18.8%) of cases bleeding was more extensive involving more than one site. Mortality was 4(25%) and 3(18.8%) had abnormal neurological findings at discharge. There is an urgent need for national policy for vitamin K prophylaxis at birth.

scholarly journals Vitamin K prophylaxis for prevention of vitamin K deficiency bleeding: a systematic review

2016 ◽  
Vol 36 (S1) ◽  
pp. S29-S35 ◽  
Author(s):  
M J Sankar ◽  
A Chandrasekaran ◽  
P Kumar ◽  
A Thukral ◽  
R Agarwal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Vitamin K ◽  
Vitamin K Deficiency ◽  
Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding ◽  
Vitamin K Prophylaxis ◽  
K Deficiency
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document