About

Kamlesh Vasant Athavale is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Duke University, specializing in Neonatology. He is based at the Duke Department of Pediatrics, located at 2400 Pratt Street, 8th Floor, Durham, NC. His professional focus includes neonatal care and he is involved in the Neonatology Fellowship program, contributing to both clinical practice and education in this specialized field.

Research topics

• Medicine
• Pediatrics
• Obstetrics
• Surgery
• Internal medicine
• Endocrinology

Selected publications

• Decreasing Blood Transfusions in Premature Infants Through Quality Improvement

  PEDIATRICS · 2024-07-17 · 5 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Packed red blood cell transfusions (pRBCT) in preterm infants have been associated with significant morbidity. Although infants <26 weeks' gestational age typically require several pRBCT, preterm infants born between 26 and 34 weeks' gestational age may also require pRBCT during their hospitalization that are potentially preventable. We aimed to reduce pRBCT in this population by 20%. METHODS: This quality improvement project was conducted in the Duke University Hospital NICU between July 2018 and February 2023. Interventions included the implementation of evidence-based transfusion thresholds, supporting bone marrow erythropoiesis, and reducing laboratory specimen volumes by increasing capillary test panels. The rates per 1000 patient days for pRBCT (outcome measure), number of new patients initiated on erythropoietin (process measure), number of basic metabolic panels (process measure), and total capillary panels (process measure) were monitored during the project period. Statistical process control charts were used to observe trends over time. RESULTS: Among infants born between 26 0/7 and 34 6/7 weeks' gestational age, the rate of pRBCT decreased from an average of 23.8 to 12.7 transfusions per 1000 patient days, which is a 46.6% decrease. Increases in the use of erythropoietin and capillary panels were observed, along with a decrease in the use of basic metabolic panels. There was no change in mortality or the rate of necrotizing enterocolitis. Improvement was sustained for 24 months after implementation. CONCLUSIONS: pRBCT can be decreased in preterm infants born between 26 and 34 completed weeks' gestation through a combination of strategies utilizing quality improvement methodology.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Early Expressed Milk Volume and Coming to Volume for Mother’s Own Milk Feeding in Hospitalized Infants

  Research Square · 2024-12-25

  preprintOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Early pumping frequency and coming to volume for mother’s own milk feeding in hospitalized infants

  Journal of Perinatology · 2023 · 15 citations

  • Medicine
  • Pediatrics
  • Obstetrics
  PublisherDOI

• Comparison of short-term outcomes of 35-weeks’ gestation infants cared for in a level II NICU vs mother-baby, a retrospective study

  Journal of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine · 2022 · 4 citations

  Senior authorCorresponding
  • Medicine
  • Pediatrics
  • Obstetrics

  BACKGROUND: Late preterm infants are at high risk for medical complications and represent a growing NICU population. While 34-weeks' gestation infants are generally admitted to the NICU and 36-weeks'gestation infants stay in mother-baby, there is wide practice variation for 35-weeks'gestation infants. The objective of this study was to compare short-term outcomes of 35-weeks' gestation infants born at two hospitals within the same health system (DUHS), where one (DRH) admits all 35-weeks' gestation infants to their level II NICU and the other (DUH) admits all 35-weeks' gestation infants to mother-baby, unless clinical concern. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis of 35-weeks' gestation infants born at DUHS from 2014-2019. Infant specific data were collected for birth, demographics, medications, medical therapies, LOS, ED visits and readmissions. 35-weeks' gestation infants at each hospital (DRH vs DUH) that met inclusion criteria were compared, regardless of unit(s) of care. RESULTS: 726 infants of 35-weeks' gestation were identified, 591 met our inclusion criteria (DUH -462, DRH -129). Infants discharged from DRH were more likely to receive medical therapies (caffeine, antibiotics, blood culture, phototherapy, NGT), had a 4 day longer LOS, but were more likely to feed exclusively MBM at discharge. There were no differences in ED visits; however, more infants from DUH were readmitted within 30 days of discharge. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest admitting 35-weeks' gestation infants directly to the NICU increases medical interventions and LOS, but might reduce hospital readmissions.

  PublisherDOI

• Oral Glucose Gel for Asymptomatic Neonatal Hypoglycemia: Is It A Sweet Deal?

  2021

  • Medicine
  • Pediatrics
  • Internal medicine

  Background: Asymptomatic hypoglycemia is common in certain newborn infants and can require treatment with dextrose-containing intravenous fluids, resulting in transfer from newborn nurseries to neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), and maternal-infant separation. 40% oral glucose gel (GG) has been reported to be an effective, non-invasive treatment for asymptomatic hypoglycemia in neonates, often reducing the number of transfers to a higher level of care. Objective: To implement the use of GG to reduce NICU admissions by 20% in infants > 36 week gestation detected to have asymptomatic …

  PublisherDOI

• Oral Glucose Gel for Asymptomatic Neonatal Hypoglycemia: Is It A Sweet Deal?

  PEDIATRICS · 2021-03-01

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Patterns of phlebotomy blood loss and transfusions in extremely low birth weight infants

  Journal of Perinatology · 2019-10-03 · 37 citations

  articleOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Effects of Pressure Support during an Acute Reduction of Synchronized Intermittent Mandatory Ventilation in Preterm Infants

  Journal of Perinatology · 2005-04-21 · 47 citations

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Acute Effects of Inhaled Nitric Oxide on Pulmonary and Cardiac Function in Preterm Infants with Evolving Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia

  Journal of Perinatology · 2004-10-21 · 11 citations

  article1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

Frequent coauthors

• David Tanaka

  Duke University Hospital

  7 shared

• Chi D. Hornik

  Duke Medical Center

  4 shared

• Sophie K. Shaikh

  Duke University

  3 shared

• P. Couchet

  Duke University

  2 shared

• Carmen D’Ugard

  2 shared

• Nelson Claure

  University of Miami

  2 shared

• C. Michael Cotten

  Duke University

  2 shared

• Daniela M. Titchiner

  Duke University

  2 shared