Name: Doctor reviews: Polycythemia in Newborns
Uploaded: 2026-04-27T12:38:54.615Z
Duration: 25 min 22 s
Channel: Tala Talks NICU

Tala Talks NICU

https://media1-us-west.cloudokyo.cloud/video/v14/bd/02/1d/bd021dd7-e1ae-4cb3-bbc7-6345eff5414f/master.m3u8

Are you confused about polycythemia in newborns? This complete guide breaks down everything you need to know in a simple, clinical way.

In this video, a neonatology expert explains:

- What is neonatal polycythemia
- Why does high hematocrit increase blood viscosity
- Common causes like placental insufficiency, delayed cord clamping, and twin-to-twin transfusion
- Signs & symptoms (cardiorespiratory, GI & neurological)
- Important complications like hypoglycemia, jaundice & thrombocytopenia
- Best diagnostic approach (capillary vs venous sample)
- Updated management guidelines (hydration vs partial exchange transfusion)

💡 Most babies are asymptomatic—but missing this condition can lead to serious complications like poor oxygen delivery or even stroke risk.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Do you want extra Tala Talks education? A neonatal tip a week? Access to LIVE videos? Behind the scene members-only videos? Worksheets of the videos? Do you want to decide which videos we should be publishing next? If so- join our new (low-priced!) membership community! 
Join here:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxv2qGB7HR5lR2D7IdoUAJA/join
Help us guide the future of this channel and get involved in our community! 

For PDF summaries of the videos, links to relevant articles (+ 50 free Multiple Choice Questions/ Answers and explanations!!), AND a bunch of other stuff, subscribe to our Neonatal Nuggets Newsletter here: 
https://talatalksnicu.substack.com/subscribe
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Please be sure to give us a like, comment about future topics, and subscribe to this channel to stay up to date on all things NICU! Also, click the notification bell after you subscribe to gain your weekly NICU knowledge as soon as it's loaded!
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Dr. Tala is a board-certified neonatologist and has worked in busy level III and IV units for the past 18 years. She has won multiple teaching awards throughout her time as a neonatologist.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
References: 
Reference Ranges for Hematocrit and Blood Hemoglobin Concentration During the Neonatal Period: Data From a Multihospital Health Care System - Scientific Figure on ResearchGate. Available from: https://www.rese archgate.net/figu re/The-reference- ranges-are-shown -for-hematocrit-A -N-25-464-patient s-and-blood_fig1 _23950723
By OpenStax College - Anatomy & Physiology, Connexions Web site. http://cnx.org/cont ent/col11496/1.6/, Jun 19, 2013., CC BY 3.0, https://commons.w ikimedia.org/w/ind ex.php?curid=3014 8163
Katheria, Anup & Lakshminrusi mha, Satyan & Rabe, Heike & McAdams, R & Mercer, Judith. (2016). Placental transfusion: a review. Journal of perinatology : official journal of the California Perinatal Association. 37. 10.1038/jp.20 16.151.
Hopewell B, Steiner LA, Ehrenkranz RA, Bizzarro MJ, Gallagher PG. Partial exchange transfusion for polycythemia hyperviscosity syndrome. Am J Perinatol. 2011 Aug;28(7):557-6 4. doi: 10.1055/s-0031- 1274504. Epub 2011 Mar 1. PMID: 21365533.
By FetalTherapyLUMC at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=32927704
Cho YI, Cho DJ. Hemorheolog y and Microvascular Disorders. Korean Circ J. 2011 Jun;41(6):287 -295. https://d oi.org/10.407 0/kcj.2011.41. 6.287
Michael S. Schimmel, Ruben Bromiker, Roger F. Soll, Neonatal polycythemia: is partial exchange transfusion justified?, Clinics in Perinatology, Volume 31, Issue 3, 2004, Pages 545-553, ISSN 0095-5108,
O’Brien, Brigid & Middleton, Brittany & Cua, Erica & Resnick, Alex & Ho, Cynthia. (2017). Case 3: Jaundice, Pallor, and Failure to Thrive in a 7-week-old Infant. Pediatrics in Review. 38. 235-235. 10.1542/pir.2015-01 79.
van Oldenmark BO, Rondagh M, Adama van Scheltema P, Slaghekke F, van der Meeren LE, Spruijt MS, Lopriore E, de Vries LS, Steggerda SJ. Perinatal Arterial Ischemic Stroke in Monochorionic Twins: A Retrospective Observational Single-Center Cohort Study. Stroke. 2025 Nov;56(11):3153-3164. doi: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.125.05 1702. Epub 2025 Sep 10. PMID: 40927822; PMCID: PMC12551421.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
***TIMESTAMPS***
00:00 Introduction to Polycythemia
01:14 What is Neonatal Polycythemia?
03:43 Conditions associated with polycythemia
08:18 Clinical signs and symptoms
16:46 Diagnosis
18:43 Management
25:10 Final Takeaways

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Disclaimer*: This video is intended for educational purposes only and while we strive to give the most accurate information, errors may occur. Subsequently, this video should not be a replacement for medical advice.