Minnesota Neonatal Physicians, P.A., in collaboration with Children's Hospitals and Clinics, has maintained an extensive patient database since 1979. We now have outcome information on over 30,000 babies. In the past 10 years we have participated in 12 multi-institutional studies of neonatal care and published over 40 articles and one book. Our physicians have given medical presentations across the U.S. and overseas, from Singapore to Kiev. We also provide training for obstetrical residents and since 1991, have offered elective training opportunities to pediatric residents.

Recent Publications

Watterberg KL, Shaffer ML, Garland JS, Mishefske MJ, Leach CL, Mammel MC, Couser RJ, Abbasi S, Gerdes J, Petit K, Aucott SW, Allen MC, Thilo EH, Rozycki HJ, Lowe J, Lacy CB. Growth and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes After Early Low-Dose Hydrocortisone Treatment in Extremely
Low Birth Weight Infants. Pediatrics July 2007, Vol. 120, No. 1, pp.40-48.

Messinger Y, Sheaffer JW, Mrozek J, Smith CM, Sinaiko AR. Renal Outcome of Neonatal Renal Venous Thrombosis: Review of 28 patients and effectiveness of fibrinolytics and heparin in 10 patients. Pediatrics 2006;118:1478-84. PMID: 17000780

Kinsella JP, Cutter GR, Hart C, Walsh WF, Gerstmann DR, Sekar KC, Auten RL, Bhutani VK, Gerdes JS, George TN, Bose CL, Southgate WM, Carriedo H, Couser RJ, Mammel MC, Hall DC, Pappagallo M, Sardesai S, Baier M, Abman SH.  Early Inhaled Nitric Oxide Therapy in Premature Newborns with Respiratory Failure. New Engl J of Med, 2006 July 27;355(4): 354-364. PMID: 16870914      

Sidman JD, Jaguan A, Couser RJ.  Tracheotomy and Decannulation Rates in a Level 3 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A Twelve Year Study.  Laryngoscope, 2006;116(1): 136-139. PMID: 16481826

Payne NR, LaCorte M, MD, Sun S, Karna P, Lewis-Hunstiger M, Goldsmith JP on behalf of the Breathsavers Group. Evaluation, Development, and Implementation of Potentially Better Practices to Reducing Chronic Lung Disease in Very Low Birth Weight Infants. 2006. Pediatrics 2006;118(S2):S65-72. PMID: 17079625

Payne NR, LaCorte M, Karna P, Chen S, Finkelstein M, Goldsmith JP, and Carpenter JH, MS on behalf of theBreathsavers Group. Reduction of Chronic Lung Disease (CLD) After Participation in the Breathsavers Group of the Vermont Oxford Network (VON) Neonatal Intensive Care Quality Improvement Collaborative (NIC/Q 2002). Pediatrics 2006;118(S2):S73-7. PMID: 17079626

Watterberg KL, Gerdes JS, Cole CH, Aucott SW, Thilo EH, Mammel MC, Couser RJ, Garland JS, Rozychi HJ, Leach CL, Backstrom C, Shaffer ML. Effect Of Dose On Response To ACTH In Extremely Low Birth Weight Infants. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2005 Dec;90(12):6380-5. Epub 2005 Sep 13. PMID: 16159938

Gluckman PD, Wyatt JS, Azzopardi D, Ballard R, Edwards D, Ferriero DM, Polin, RA, Robertson CM, ThoresenM, Whitelaw A, Gunn AJ, on behalf of the CoolCap Study Group. ( Couser, RJ acknowledged as local PI) Selective head cooling with mild systemic hypothermia after neonatal encephalopathy: multicentre randomized trial. Lancet. 2005;365(9460):663-70. PMID: 15721471

Good WV. Hardy RJ, Dobson V, Palmer EA, Phelps DL, Quintos M, Tung B; Early Treatment for Retinopathy of Prematurity Cooperative Group (Contributing Local PI Co-investigators: Couser RJ, Brasel DE, Maxwell M)  The Incidence and Course of Retinopathy of Prematurity: The incidence and course of retinopathy of prematurity: findings from the early treatment for retinopathy of prematurity study. Pediatrics. 2005;116(1):15-23. PMID: 15995025

Watterberg KL, Gerdes JS,  Cole CH, Aucott SW, Thilo EH, Mammel MC, Couser RJ, Garland JS, Rozycki HJ, Leach CL, Backstrom C, and Shaffer ML, Prophylaxis of Early Adrenal Insufficiency to Prevent Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia: A Multicenter Trial. Pediatrics, Dec 2004;114:1649-1657.  PMID: 15574629       

Payne NR, Carpenter J, Badger GJ, Horbar JD, Rogowski J. Marginal Increase in Cost and Excess Length of Stay Associated with Nosocomial Bloodstream Infections in Surviving Very Low Birth Weight Infants. Pediatrics, 2004;348-355.  PMID: 15286215

Lucey JF, Rowan CA, Shiono P, Wilkinson AR, Kilpatrick S, Payne NR, Hobar J, Carpenter J, Rogowski J, Soll RF Fetal Infants: The Fate of 4172 Infants with Birth Weights of 401 to 500 Grams—The Vermont Oxford Network Experience (1996-2000  Pediatrics, June 2004; 113:1559-1566, PMID: 15173474

Hoekstra RE, Ferrara TB,  Couser RJ, Payne NR, Connett JE  Survival and Long-Term Neurodevelopmental Outcome of Extremely Premature Infants Born at 23–26 Weeks’ Gestational Age at a Tertiary Center Pediatrics, Jan 2004; 113:e1-6, PMID: 14702487.

Lander TA, Schauer G, Bendel-Stenzel E. Sidman JD  Tracheal agenesis in newborns. Laryngoscope   2004;114:1633-6 2004. PMID: 15475795

Good WV; Early Treatment for Retinopathy of Prematurity Cooperative Group. (Local PIs: Couser RJ, Brasel DE, Maxwell M). Final results of the Early Treatment for Retinopathy of Prematurity (ETROP) randomized trial. Trans Am Ophthalmol Soc. 2004;102:233-48. PMID: 15747762

Davis JM, Parad R, Michele T, Allred E, Price A, Rosenfeld W. For the North American Recombinant Human CuZnSOD Study Group (Couser RJ, acknowledged as local PI investigator).  Pulmonary Outcome At 1 Year Corrected Age In Premature Infants Treated At Birth With Recombinant CuZn Superoxide Dismutase, Pediatrics 2003; 111: 469-76. PMID: 12612223

Saunders RP, Abraham MR, Crosby MJ, Thomas K, Edwards WH.  Evaluation and development of potentially better practices for improving family-centered care in neonatal intensive care units. Pediatrics 2003;111:e437-49. PMID: 12671164

ETROP Cooperative Group (Children’s-Minneapolis: Contributing Local PI Co-investigators: Couser JR, Brasel DE, Maxwell M) Revised Indications for the Treatment of Retinopathy of Prematurity.  Results of the Early Treatment for Retinopathy of Prematurity Randomized Trial, Arch Ophthalmol 2003; 121: 1684-1696. PMID: 14662586

Burch K, Rhine W, Baker R, Litman F, Kaempf JW, Schwarz E, Sun S, Payne NR, Sharek PJ.  Implementing potentially better practices to reduce lung injury in neonates. Pediatrics 2003;111:e432-6. PMID: 12671163

Sharek PJ, Baker R, Litman F, Kaempf J, Burch K, Scwarz E, Sun S, Payne, NR; Evaluation and Development of Potentially Better Practices to Prevent Chronic Lung Disease and Reduce Lung Injury in Neonates, Pediatrics, April 2003; 111:426-431. PMID: 12671162

Hoff DS, Maynard RC; Accidental administration of oxytocin to a premature infant.  Neonatal Network 2002;21:27-9. PMID: 11871004

Kacmarynski DS, Sidman JD, Rimell FL and Hustead VA: Spontaneous tracheal and subglottic tears in neonates.  Laryngoscope 2002;112:1387-93. PMID: 12172250

Heubi JE, Wiechmann DA, Creutzinger V, Setchell KDR, Squires R Jr, Couser R, Rhodes P; Tauroursodeoxycholic Acid (TUDCA) in the Prevention of Total Parenteral Nutrition-Associated Liver Disease  J Pediatrics, 141(2)237-42, 2002. PMID: 12183720     

Gaziano E, Gaziano C, Terrell C, Hoekstra R; The cerebroplacental Doppler ratio and neonatal outcome in diamnionic monochorionic and dichorionic twins. J Matern Fetal Med 2001;10:371-5. PMID: 11798445

Horbar JD, Rogowski J, Plsek PE, Delmore P, Edwards WH, Hocker J, Kantak AD, Lewallen P, Lewis W, Lewit E, McCarroll CJ, Musjce D, Payne NR, Shiono P, Soll RF, Leahy K and Carpenter JH: Collaborative quality improvement for neonatal intensive care. NIC/Q Project Investigators of the Vermont Oxford Network. Pediatrics 2001;107:14-22. PMID: 11134428

Rogowski JA, Horbar JD, Plsek PE, Baker LS, Deterding J, Edwards WH, Hocker J, Kantak AD, Lewallen P, Lewis W, Lewitt E, McCarroll CJ, Mujsce D, Payne NR, Shiono P, Soll RF, Leahy K:  Collaborative quality improvement for neonatal intensive care.  NIC/Q project investigators of the Vermont Oxford Network.  Pediatrics 2001;107:23-9. PMID: 11134429

MacDonald JT, Camp D. Prolonged but reversible respiratory failure in a newborn with Prader-Willi syndrome. J Child Neurol 2001;16:153-4. PMID: 11292227

Davis JM, Richter SE, Biswas S, Rosenfeld WN, Parton L, Gewolb IH, Parad R, Carlo W, Couser RJ, et al.  Long term follow-up of premature infants treated with prophylactic, intratracheal recombinant human CuZn superoxide dismutase.  J Perinatol 2000;20: 213-6. PMID: 10879331

Couser RJ, Hoekstra RE, Ferrara TB, Wright GB, Cabalka AK, Connett JE. Neurodevelopmental follow-up at 36 months corrected age of preterm infants treated with prophylactic indomethacin.  Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2000;154:598-602. PMID: 10850507

Bendel-Stenzel EM, Smith KM, Simonton SC, Bing DR, Meyers PA, Connett JE, Mammel MC. Surfactant and partial liquid ventilation via conventional and high-frequency techniques in an animal model of respiratory distress syndrome. Pediatric Critical Care Med 2000;1:72-8. PMID: 12813291

Taylor, Daniel and Hoekstra, Ronald; Before Their Time:  Lessons in Living From Those Born Too Soon. InterVarsity Press; July 2000.

Mrozek JD, Georgieff MK, Blazar BR, Mammel MC, Schwarzenberg SJ. Effect of sepsis syndrome on neonatal protein and energy metabolism.  J Perinatol, 2000;20:96-100. PMID: 10785884

Mrozek JD, Bendel-Stenzel EM, Meyers PA, Bing DR, Connett JE, Mammel MC. Randomized controlled trial of volume-targeted synchronized ventilation and conventional intermittent mandatory ventilation following initial exogenous surfactant therapy. Pediatr Pulmono, 2000;29:11-8. PMID: 10613781

Bendel-Stenzel EM, Meyers PA, Bing DR, Connett JE, Mammel MC. Variations in end-expiratory pressure during partial liquid ventilation: impact on gas exchange, lung compliance, and end-expiratory lung volume. Chest 2000;117:184-90. PMID: 10631218

Cornfield DN, Maynard RC, deRegnier RA, Guiang SF 3rd, Barbato JE, Milla CE. Randomized, controlled trial of low-dose inhaled nitric oxide in the treament of term and near-term infants with respiratory failure and pulmonary hypertension.  Pediatrics 1999;104:1089-94. PMID: 10545552

Bendel-Stenzel EM, Bing DR, Meyers PA, Connett JE, Mammel MC. Synchronized gas and partial liquid ventilation in lung-injured animals: improved gas exchange with decreased effort.  Pediatr Pulmonol 1999;27:242-50. PMID: 10230923

Mrozek JD, Smith KM, Simonton SC, Bing DR, Meyers PA, Connett JE, Mammel MC. Perfluorocarbon priming and surfactant: physiologic and pathologic effects. Crit Care Med 1999;27:1916-22. PMID: 10507618

Bendel-Stenzel EM, Mrozek JD, Bing DR, Meyers PA, Connett JE, Mammel MC. Dynamics of spontaneous breathing during patient-triggered partial liquid ventilation.  Pediatr Pulmonol 1998;26:319-5. PMID: 9859900

Davis JM, Rosenfeld WN, Richter SE, Parad MR, Gewolb IH, Spitzer AR, Carlo WA, Couser RJ et al.  Safety and pharmacokinetics of multiple doses of recombinant human CuZn superoxide dismutase administered intratracheally to premature neonates with respiratory distress syndrome. Pediatrics 1997;100:24-30. PMID: 9200356.

Mrozek JD, Smith KM, Bing DR, Meyers PA, Simonton SC, Connett JE, Mammel MC. Exogenous surfactant and partial liquid ventilation: physiologic and pathologic effects.  Amer J Resp and Crit Care Med 1997;156:1058-65. PMID: 9351603

Smith KM, Mrozek JD, Simonton SC, Bing DR, Meyers PA, Connett JE, Mammel MC. Prolonged partial liquid ventilation using conventional and high frequency techniques: gas exchange and lung pathology in an animal model of respiratory distress syndrome.  Crit Care Med 1997;25:1888-97. PMID: 9366775

Payne NR and Fleit HB: Extremely low birth weight infants have lower Fc gamma RIII (CD 16) plasma levels and their PMN produce less Fc gamma RIII compared to adults Biol Neonate 1996;69:235-42. PMID: 8724651

Couser RJ, Ferrara TB, Wright GB, Cabalka AK, Hoekstra RE, Payne NR, and Fangman JJ. Prophylactic indomethacin therapy in the first twenty-four hours of life for the prevention of patent ductus arteriosus in preterm infants treated prophylactically with surfactant in the delivery room. J Pediatr 1996;128:631-7. PMID: 8627434

Ferrara TB, Hoekstra RE, Couser RJ, Gaziano EP, Calvin SE, Payne NR, et al. Survival and follow-up of infants 23 to 26 weeks gestation: effects of surfactant therapyJ Pediatr 1994;124:119-24. PMID: 8283360

Ferrara TB, Hoekstra RE, Couser RJ, Gaziano EP, Calvin SE, Payne NR, Fangman JJ.  Is it time to reassess the risk for the growth-retarded fetus with normal Doppler velocimetry of the umbilical artery? Am J Obstet Gynecol 1994;170:1734-41. PMID: 8283360

Payne NR, Schilling CG, Steinberg S:  Selecting antibiotics for nosocomial bacterial infections in patients requiring neonatal intensive care. Neonatal Network 1994;18:41-51. PMID: 8283360

Hoekstra RE, Ferrara TB, Payne NR. Effects of surfactant therapy on outcome of extremely premature infants. Eur J Pediatr 1994;153:S12-6. PMID: 7957437

Steinhorn RH, Kriesmer P, Green TP, McKay CJ, Payne NR: Congenital diaphragmatic hernia in Minnesota. Impact of antenatal diagnosis on survival. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med  1994;148:626-31. PMID: 8193691