MCCCD Program Description

Neonatal Pathophysiology

Course: NCE208

First Term: 2004 Summer I

Lecture 3 Credit(s) 3 Period(s) 3 Load
Subject Type: Occupational
Load Formula: S

Description: Pathophysiology and physiologic adaptations of the neonate to include assessment and management of respiratory, cardiac, hematological, immunological, neurological and fluid and electrolyte disorders. Acid-base regulation and hemodynamic dysfunction

MCCCD Official Course Competencies
1. Describe the roles and responsibilities of the neonatal nurse, respiratory therapist, pharmacist, neonatologist and radiologist in the care of the neonatal patient. (I) 2. Describe the pathological changes found on x-ray in a neonatal chest and gastrointestinal film. (II) 3. Identify respiratory principles as they apply to the neonate including functional residual capacity, pressure/volume relationships and tidal volume. (II, III) 4. Describe the pathophysiological principles involved with barotrauma, atelectasis and compliance, and ventilation/perfusion matching. (III, IV) 5. Describe the assessment and management of respiratory dysfunction in the embryonic lung at 24 weeks and beyond. (IV, V) 6. Summarize the physiologic principles involving respiratory bronchioles, development of capillaries and ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) mismatch. (V, VI) 7. State the principles involved in surfactant therapy. (VI) 8. Explain the pathology involved in the following neonatal respiratory complications: bronchopulmonary dysplasia, oxygen toxicity, and pulmonary emphysema. (VII) 9. Demonstrate use of the equipment involved in conventional mechanical ventilation and high-frequency mechanical ventilation. (VIII) 10. Describe normal cardiac structure and function in the neonate. (IX) 11. Identify congenital cardiac defects including acyanotic heart defects, Tetralogy of Fallot and ventricular defects. (X) 12. Describe acid base abnormalities in the neonate including fluid and electrolyte problems and pulmonary hypertension. (XI) 13. Identify hemodynamic function as it relates to blood gases, oxygen saturation curves and regulation of red blood cell production. (XII) 14. Identify the blood components and the role of the complement cascade as they relate to the neonate. (XIII) 15. Describe how to differentiate between infection, inflammation, sepsis and multi-organ system dysfunction in the neonate. (XIV) 16. Describe the pathophysiological principles in the neurological system of the neonate. (XV) 17. Identify the interventions required in the management of intraventricular hemorrhage, periventricular leukomalacia and hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy. (XV)
MCCCD Official Course Competencies must be coordinated with the content outline so that each major point in the outline serves one or more competencies. MCCCD faculty retains authority in determining the pedagogical approach, methodology, content sequencing, and assessment metrics for student work. Please see individual course syllabi for additional information, including specific course requirements.

MCCCD Official Course Outline
I. Roles and Responsibilities of the Neonatal Caregiver Team A. Neonatal nurse B. Respiratory therapist C. Pharmacist D. Neonatologist E. Radiologist II. Interpretation & Diagnosis of Neonatal X-rays A. Chest x-rays B. Gastrointestinal x-rays III. Application of Respiratory Function Principles to the Neonate A. Functional residual capacity B. Pressure volume relationship C. Tidal volume IV. Pathophysiological Principles of Respiratory Complications A. Barotrauma B. Atelectasis 1. Compliance 2. Ventilation and perfusion matching V. Assessment and Management of Respiratory Dysfunction A. Embryonic lung 24 weeks and greater B. Respiratory bronchioles C. Capillaries and V/Q mismatch VI. Principles of Surfactant Therapy A. Timing B. Dosages C. Administration principles VII. Respiratory Pathology and Complications of the Neonate A. Bronchopulmonary dysplasia B. Oxygen toxicity C. Pulmonary emphysema VIII. Mechanical Ventilation of the Neonate A. Conventional mechanical ventilation B. High frequency mechanical ventilation IX. Cardiac System Structure and Function in the Neonate A. Heart chambers B. Circulation X. Congenital Cardiac Defects A. Acyanotic heart defects B. Tetralogy of Fallot C. Ventricular defects XI. Acid Balance Regulation in the Neonate A. Interpretation of blood gases B. Fluid and electrolyte problems C. Pulmonary hypertension XII. Hemodynamic Principles in the Neonate A. Instruments used to measure hemodynamics B. Value interpretation C. Blood gases and hemodynamics D. Oxygen saturation curves and hemodynamics E. Red blood cell production and hemodynamics XIII. The Blood System of the Neonate A. Blood components B. Complement cascade XIV. Differentiation of Infection and Inflammation A. Assessment guidelines B. Sepsis C. Multi-organ system dysfunction XV. Neurological Complications in the Neonate A. Pathophysiological principles B. Intraventricular hemorrhage C. Periventricular leukomalacia D. Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy

MCCCD Governing Board Approval Date: 2/24/2004

All information published is subject to change without notice. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information presented, but based on the dynamic nature of the curricular process, course and program information is subject to change in order to reflect the most current information available.