Effect of delayed cord clamping on short term clinical and laboratory findings in term and late preterm infants

Abstract

Purpose: Delaying the cord clamping for at least 30 seconds in infants who did not require cardiopulmonary resuscitation after birth has been recommended in the revised guidelines of American Academy of Pediatrics in 2015. We aimed to evaluate the effect of delayed cord clamping on hematological and biochemical parameters, need for hospitalization, oxygen, mechanical ventilation, phototherapy, and on sepsis, hyperbilirubinemia rate in late preterm and term infants. Material and Methods: This prospective study included 86 infants with a gestational age of 34 to 41 weeks. Infants were randomly included in one of two groups. While cords of 43 infants were clamped immediately after birth, cords of the other 43 infants were clamped after one minute. Hematological and biochemical values were evaluated both in cord blood and venous blood samples on 7th day of life. Results: Hemoglobin and hematocrit values were similar in two groups both in cord blood and on 7th day of life. Delayed cord clamping resulted in statistically significant decrease in the leukocyte and platelet coun and creatinine levels in the cord blood. Mechanical ventilation requirement was significantly lower in the delayed cord clamping group. Hospitalization rate, sepsis rate and hyperbilirubinemia rate were similar in both groups. Conclusion: Delayed cord clamping caused lower leucocyte, platelet counts and lower creatinine levels in cord blood. There seems a beneficial effect on respiratory status in late preterm and term infants.

Keywords

• infants
• cord clamping time
• creatinine level
• leucocyte level
• mechanical ventilation
• bebekler
• kord klempleme zamanı
• kreatinine
• lökosit sayısıs
• mekanik ventilasyon