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Umbilical or Peripheral Catheter Insertion for Preterm Infants on Admission to the NICU

Not Applicable
Conditions
Neonatal Hypothermia
Hypothermia, Newborn
Preterm Birth Complication
Interventions
Procedure: Vascular access on admission
Registration Number
NCT04761484
Lead Sponsor
University College Dublin
Brief Summary

Preterm infants are at risk of hypothermia following delivery and in the first few hours of life. Hypothermia in extremely low birth weight infants' is an independent risk factor for death. These infants' are at additional risk of hypothermia when they undergo procedures such as central catheter insertion following admission.

The investigators think that in extremely preterm infants, placing a peripheral intravenous cannula on admission to the NICU, instead of umbilical catheters (UVC and/or UAC), will increase the proportion of infants with a rectal temperature in the normal range at 2 hours of life.

Detailed Description

Hypothermia is an independent risk factor for death in preterm newborns.(1) Despite measures to improve temperature in preterm newborns in the delivery room (DR), hypothermia on admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at NMH is common. In a cohort of infants \< 32 weeks' gestation born at NMH in 2019, 54% of infants had a rectal temperature \< 36.5 oC on admission to the NICU.(2)

Many preterm infants have procedures performed soon after admission to the NICU; in 2019, 98% of infants born before 29 weeks' gestation at NMH had an umbilical venous catheter inserted. This may/often involve(s) prolonged periods of handling and potential exposure to cold.

The investigators prospectively studied a cohort of 26 infants \< 32 weeks who had invasive procedures within 3 hours of birth performed in the NICU at NMH between November 2018 and June 2019. Almost three-quarters \[19/26 (73%)\] had an abnormal temperature at the beginning of the procedure; and 17/26 (65%) had an abnormal temperature at the end of the procedure. Only 3 (11%) infants maintained a normal temperature throughout the procedure. Perhaps more concerning is the severity of the hypothermia observed; 13 (50%) infants had a temperature \< 36.0oC before and 11 (42%) after the procedure. The median duration of procedure was 53 (37, 73) minutes.(3)

The investigators think that in extremely preterm infants, placing a peripheral intravenous cannula on admission to the NICU, instead of umbilical catheters (UVC and/or UAC), will increase the proportion of infants with a rectal temperature in the normal range at 2 hours of life.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
UNKNOWN
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
116
Inclusion Criteria
  • inborn infants admitted to the NICU with;
  • gestational age < 29 weeks (up to 28+6 weeks) OR
  • birth weight < 1250g.
Exclusion Criteria
  • end of life (palliative) care
  • large abdominal wall defects
  • imperforate anus.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
InterventionVascular access on admissionInsertion of peripheral venous catheter on admission to the NICU
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Core (rectal) temperature 2 hours after birth2 hours

Core (rectal) temperature 2 hours after birth

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Inotropes administered in the first 72 hours of life3 days
Number (%) of low lying umbilical venous cathetersup to 24 hours
Number (%) of infants' in whom attempted placement of an umbilical line was not successfulup to 24 hours

Definition: an attempt made to insert a central catheter that is not used at any point during the infant's admission (i.e. nothing was infused through the line)

Number (%) of infants in whom PIVC as first point of access was unsuccessful (nothing was infused through the line)24 hours
Complications of line insertion/placement10 days
Number (%) lines repositionedup to 24 hours
Axillary temperature at the end of the procedureup to 24 hours
Time to completion of procedure (incubator roof down, portholes closed and hands off)up to 24 hours
Mean difference in axillary temperature from admission to end of procedureup to 24 hours
Number of peripheral line attemptsup to 24 hours
Blood stream infections (CRBSI)up to 16 weeks
Number of x-rays performed in first 24 hours24 hours
Number of blood transfusions during hospital stayup to 26 weeks
PICC line insertion in the first 7 days of life7 days
Intubation + VentilationUp to 3 days
Necrotizing enterocolitis (Bell's staging)Up to 3 months
Periventricular leukomalaciaUp to 6 months
Time to first intravenous infusion starting (PN / dextrose / antibiotics / caffeine)up to 24 hours
Blood sampling in first 24 hours24 hours
Number (%) infants that have umbilical catheters inserted during their admissionup to 24 hours
Number (%) lines used without repositioningup to 24 hours
Number of blood tests in 72 hours3 days
Peripheral arterial line insertion in the first 7 days of life7 days
Surfactant administrationup to 3 days
Intraventricular Haemorrhage (Papile classification)Up to 6 months
Chronic lung diseaseUp to 3 months
In hospital mortalityUp to 6 months

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

National Maternity Hospital

🇮🇪

Dublin, Dubiln, Ireland

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