Effects of Delayed Cord Clamping in Very Low Birth Weight Infants

University of Rhode Island72 enrolled

Overview

The purpose of this study was to see if a brief delay in cord clamping for 30 to 45 seconds would result in higher hematocrit levels, fewer transfusions, healthier lungs, and better motor function at 40 wks and 7 months of age.

When cord clamping is delayed at birth or the cord is milked, infants receive a placental transfusion of 10-15 mL/kg during the first few minutes of life. This additional blood improves hemodynamic stability and may reduce the risk of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) and the vulnerability of infants to inflammatory processes. This blood also contains stem cells that are important in repairing tissue and building immunocompetence. The current randomized controlled trial prospectively tested the effects of DCC for 30-45 seconds followed by 1 cord milking with the aim of confirming our prior work and providing long-term follow-up. Our a priori hypotheses were that DCC would reduce the incidence of IVH, LOS, and result in better motor function at 18-22 months.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

SINGLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia Necrotizing Enterocolitis Intraventricular Hemorrhage Late Onset Neonatal Sepsis Motor Skills Disorders

Interventions

delayed cord clampingPROCEDURE

cord clamping was delayed for 30 to 45 seconds and infant was held lower than the level of the placenta

Eligibility

Sex: FEMALE

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Women pregnant with gestation 24 to 31.6 weeks of singleton pregnancy by obstetrical evaluation * Obstetrician's approval of enrollment into study * Parental consent * Any mode of birth will be included Exclusion Criteria: * Obstetrician's refusal to enroll infants * Parental refusal for consent * Prenatally-diagnosed major congenital anomalies \[or multiple gestations\] * Intent to withhold or withdraw care * Severe or multiple maternal illnesses, frank vaginal bleeding, placenta abruption or previa * Mothers who are institutionalized or psychotic

Locations (1)

Women & Infants Hospital

Providence, Rhode Island, United States

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

VLBW infants in the delayed clamped group will have less chronic lung disease at 36 weeks postmenstrual age compared to VLBW infants in the immediate cord clamped grouped

Time frame: 36 wks postmenstrual age

VLBW infants in the delayed clamped group will have fewer incidences of suspected necrotizing enterocolitis during the NICU stay when compared with VLBW infants in the immediate cord clamped group

Time frame: Hospital discharge

VLBW infants in the delayed clamped group will have better motor function by 6 to corrected age when compared with VLBW infants in the immediate cord clamped group

Time frame: 7 months corrected age

Secondary Outcomes

Infants in the delayed cord clamping group will have less IVH than infants in the immediate clamping group

Time frame: NICU stay

Infants in the delayed clamping group will hvae less late onset sepsis than infants in the immediate clamping group.

Time frame: NICU Stay

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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