21 Delayed Cord Clamping In Preterm Infants (< 32 Weeks of Gestation): Current Clinical Practice in the United Kingdom

Abstract

AbstractsBackground Delayed cord clamping is associated with increased neonatal hemoglobin levels, and improved iron status in infants at 4-6 months. There are no previous studies evaluating effects from timing of clamping on development in term infants. Objective Does the time for umbilical cord clamping affect psychomotor development evaluated with Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) in 4-month infants? Design/methods Randomized controlled trial investigating effect of delayed cord clamping (≥180 sec, DCC) versus early cord clamping (≤10 sec, ECC) in 382 full-term normal deliveries. After 4 months, parents reported their infant's development by the ASQ. Results 365 (96%) questionnaires were returned. The mean total ASQ score did not differ between groups. The DCC group had a higher mean score (SD) in the domain problem solving, 55.3 (7.2) vs. 53.5 (8.2), p=0.03 and a lower score in personal-social; 49.5 (9.3) vs. 51.8 (8.1), p=0.01. There were no difference between the DCC and ECC groups concerning the frequency of infants under cut-off score (table).Abstract 20 Table 1 DCC n(%) ECC n(%) p Communication < 33.3 4 (2.2) 4 (2.2) 1.0

Delayed cord clamping in the compromised baby

“…This may then mean that the caregiver needs to give a fluid bolus, creating a risk of intracranial haemorrhage (Tonse and Raju, 2013). Despite the evidence of the benefits and no significant adverse effects, only 24% of units in the UK practice delayed cord clamping in preterm babies (Singh and Oddie, 2012).…”