Current Controversies in Neonatal Care

The practice of medicine, including neonatology, has always included controversies regarding best care practices for our patients. Controversial issues should encourage additional discussion and research, ultimately improving the quality of care we provide our patients. Because of the vulnerability of patients in the neonatal intensive care unit and the relatively young age of our specialty, neonatology struggles with the resolution of numerous controversial issues. This article will discuss three controversial issues including the use of steroids in premature infants, innovative treatment of hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, and the routine use of probiotics for the prevention of necrotizing enterocolitis. The current state of knowledge, questions to be answered, and future directions will be presented.