Effect of Delayed Cord Clamping on Hematocrit, and Thermal and Hemodynamic Stability in Preterm Neonates: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the short term clinical effects of delayed cord clamping in preterm neonates.

DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial.

SETTING: A tertiary care neonatal unit from October 2013 to September 2014.

PARTICIPANTS: 78 mothers with preterm labor between 27 to 316/7 weeks gestation.

INTERVENTION: Early cord clamping (10 s), delayed cord clamping (60 s) or delayed cord clamping (60 s) along with intramuscular ergometrine (500 µg) administered to the mother.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary: hematocrit at 4 h after birth; Secondary: temperature on admission in neonatal intensive care unit, blood pressure (non-invasive) at 12 h, and urinary output for initial 72 h.

RESULTS: Mean (SD) hematocrit at 4 h of birth was 58.9 (2.4)% in delayed cord clamping group, and 58.7 (2.1) % in delayed cord clamping with ergometrine group as compared to 47.6 (1.3) % in early cord clamping group. Mean (SD) temperature on admission in NICU was 35.8 (0.2)ºC, 35.8 (0.3)ºC, and 35.5 (0.3)ºC, respectively in these three groups. The mean (SD) non-invasive blood pressure at 12 h of birth was 45.8 (7.0) mmHg, 45.8 (9.0) mmHg, and 35.5 (8.6) mmHg, respectively in these three groups. Mean (SD) urinary output on day 1 of life was 1.1 (0.2) mL/kg/h, 1.1 (0.2) mL/kg/hr and 0.9 (0.2) ml/kg/h, respectively.

CONCLUSION: In preterm neonates delayed cord clamping along with lowering the infant below perineum or incision site and administration of ergometrine to mother has significant benefits in terms of increase in hematocrit, higher temperature on admission, and higher blood pressure and urinary output during perinatal transition.