The Effect of Delayed Cord Clamping on Moderate and Early Late-Preterm Infants.

OBJECTIVE:  This study aims to evaluate the clinical consequences of protocol-driven delayed umbilical cord clamping (DCC) implementation in moderate and early late-preterm (MELP) infants born between 320/7 and 346/7 weeks gestation.

STUDY DESIGN:  We conducted a prospective cohort study with a historic control cohort comparison. The prospective study period was 1 year when DCC was performed for 60 seconds duration (DCC cohort, n  = 106). The study period for historic control cohort with no DCC was also 1 year before DCC implementation (historic cohort, n  = 137).

RESULTS:  The mean hematocrit at birth was significantly higher in the DCC cohort compared with the historic cohort (49.1 ± 14.9 vs. 45.7 ± 15.7; p  = 0.01). Fewer infants in the DCC cohort were admitted to neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) on respiratory support compared with the historic cohort (17.9 vs. 29.9%; p  = 0.04). The incidence of respiratory distress syndrome was significantly lower in the DCC cohort compared with the historic cohort (2.8 vs. 14.6%; p  = 0.002). There were no differences in the incidence of phototherapy or NICU length of stay (LOS) between groups.

CONCLUSION:  In MELP infants, DCC was associated with increased hematocrit and better respiratory transition at birth. DCC was not associated with increased phototherapy or NICU LOS.