Objectives: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of a quality improvement (QI) program of delayed umbilical cord clamping (DCC) in multiple and singleton preterm infants born at our center.
Methods: After DCC protocol implementation, compliance and success rate were assessed. Clinical outcomes of selected 150 preterm infants <34 weeks gestation born in 2014 after protocol implementation (Epoch II) were compared to those of preterm infants born in 2013 before protocol implementation (Epoch I).
Results: Overall protocol compliance rate was 92% (246/267). DCC was successfully performed in 77% (205/267) after protocol implementation. There were higher multiple births in Epoch II compared to Epoch I (27.3 vs. 15.3% , p < 0.01). At birth, infants in Epoch II had significantly decreased need for intubation in delivery room (23.3 vs. 39.3% , p < 0.01), had higher hematocrit (46.4±7.3 vs. 44.0±7.1% , p < 0.01) and less metabolic acidosis (base excess -4.1±2.7 vs. -5.3±4.2 mmol/L, p < 0.01) compared to those born in Epoch I. During hospital stay, fewer infants in Epoch II received rescue surfactant therapy (45.3 vs. 56.7% , p = 0.05), medical treatment for PDA (6.7 vs. 16.6% , p = 0.04%) and red blood cell transfusions (20.7 VS. 32.0% , p < 0.01) compared to Epoch I.
Conclusions: Protocol-guided practice of DCC for 30 seconds can be safely performed in multiple and singleton preterm infants. In addition to higher initial hematocrit, infants in our QI project had lower need for delivery room resuscitation and less metabolic acidosis at birth. We also observed decreased need for rescue surfactant therapy, medical treatment for PDA and red blood cell transfusions after DCC protocol implementation.
Keywords: Delayed umbilical cord clamping (DCC); multiple births; preterm infants; quality improvement (QI).