#392 - 📑 Journal Club - The Complete Episode from January 10th 2026

Send us Fan MailThis week on The Incubator Podcast, Ben and Daphna review several recent studies in neonatal care. They start with a JAMA trial comparing expectant versus active PDA management in preterm infants, noting a survival signal favoring expectant care and discussing how this fits within current practice. They then review outcomes of 21-week gestation infants from the University of Iowa, focusing on resuscitation strategies and survival at the limits of viability.The conversation continues with the ICAF trial, examining whether extending caffeine therapy through 41 weeks postmenstrual age meaningfully reduces intermittent hypoxia and for which infants this may matter. A large national cohort study on antenatal corticosteroids between 21 and 24 weeks gestation is also discussed, highlighting practice variation and implications for counseling.The episode closes with a Neo News segment on legal liability in the NICU following a recent $32 million NEC settlement. Ben, Daphna, and Eli consider informed consent around nutritional care and how evolving legal pressures may influence communication and clinical decision making.This compilation brings together research and policy discussions from the week in a single long-form episode.Support the showAs always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: [email protected]. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below.Enjoy!