Prematurity-Related Ventilatory Control
Respiratory Control in Premature InfantsThe purpose of this research study is to improve our understanding of unstable breathing and heart blood flow patterns seen in premature infants. The investigator will use novel non-invasive measures to understand the determinants of these unstable breathing and heart flow patterns to potentially identify new therapies for their prevention.
Improving SCBU Care for Preterm Babies
Preterm InfantPreterm BirthSince 2008, preterm neonates are taking care of in a Special Baby Care Unit (SCBU). Those born less than 34 weeks of gestation are followed-up monthly for one year for monitoring their hematocrit level, growth and development. Medical chart reviews are useful to evaluate the burden of diseases, characterize care treatment patterns and clinical outcomes by patients' subgroups; ultimately it can help identifying gaps in care pathways thus improving quality of care and ultimately reducing mortality. Medical records of all preterm neonates hospitalized in the SCBU including those followed up during their first year of life are computerized. The investigators propose to review the clinical charts of the preterm neonates in regards to four main points of care a) feeding, b) infections including early onset of neonatal sepsis, necrotizing enterocolitis and umbilical cord infection, c) body temperature control and d) respiratory distress. This medical charts review will be complemented by i) focus group discussions (FGD) with the medical staff working in the SCBU on the benefits and difficulties in using the existing guidelines for preterm care and by ii) interviews with mothers who delivered a preterm neonate on their experience in caring for their child and the challenges they faced. While performing the retrospective part of the project and after discussing the preliminary findings from the medical staff perception of the existing guidelines, the investigators will evaluate the feasibility to implement some additional recommendations to improve preterm birth outcomes based on recent literature and new protocols for resource-limited settings.
To Research the Relation Between Neonatal Morbidities and Poor Outcome in Preterm Infants
Preterm InfantMorbidity;Infant2 moreFrom November 2014 to October 2015, a multi-centers retrospective study was conducted to collect compliance, and 8 three-level hospitals from China were included. The infants survived to a postmenstrual age of 36 week with birth weight less than 1500g and without congenital disease. The birth weight, gestational age, morbidities and poor outcomes( death, cerebral palsy, cognitive, et al) were recorded. Data were analyzed with Chi-square test to observe the relationship between morbidities and poor outcomes. And the predictive effect on the number of the top three morbidities were analyzed by Logistic regression analysis.
The Effect of Standardizing the Definition of a Clinically Significant Cardiopulmonary Event on...
Apnea of PrematurityA health care initiative will be implemented December 4, 2017 in the Newborn Intensive Care (NICU) setting in an attempt to reduce the length of stay (LOS) for premature infants after standardizing the definition and approach to a clinically significant cardiopulmonary event (CSCPE). We would like to compare LOS in infants born < 30 weeks gestation before and after standardization to see if LOS is reduced.
Pessary Versus Cerclage With or Without Progesterone in Twins
Preterm BirthTwin Pregnancy1 moreThis study compares the effectiveness of cervical pessary and cervical cerclage with or without vaginal progesterone for prevention of preterm birth in women with a twin pregnancy and a cervix ≤28 mm. Participants will be randomly assigned in a 1:1:1:1 ratio to receive cerclage, pessary, cerclage plus progesterone or pessary plus progesterone.
The FLIP-1 Study: Vaginal Lactobacillus Supplementation in Women at High Risk of Preterm Birth
Preterm LaborPreterm Birth4 morePreterm birth (PTB) is the primary cause of infant death worldwide. It has been shown that a vaginal microbiota deplete in Lactobacillus species is a risk factor for preterm labour. Conversely a vaginal microbiota dominated by Lactobacillus crispatus appears to be protective for these adverse outcomes. A wide range of 'over the counter' Lactobacillus spp. containing products targeted at 'vaginal health' and formulated for vaginal administration are available, but most of them do not contain vaginal species of Lactobacillus. The primary aim of this study is to determine whether vaginal supplementation with L. crispatus CTV-05 is associated with colonisation.
Cervix Monitor for Elasticity and Length Measurements
Preterm BirthPreterm birth is a leading global cause of neonatal mortality despite of numerous advances and intensive research in perinatal medicine. Almost one million children die each year due to complications of preterm birth and in almost all countries with reliable data, preterm birth rates are increasing. Of the 14 million survivors per year, many face a lifetime of disability, including learning disabilities, visual and hearing impairments. Spontaneous preterm delivery (SPTD) is often multi factorial event, precocious cervical softening, shortening and dilatation are a common denominator. The majority of preterm births happen spontaneously, though some are due to early induction of labor or cesarean birth, typically due to medical maternal of neonatal conditions.
Monitoring Neonatal Resuscitation Trial
ResuscitationNeonatal Prematurity1 moreThis is a randomized trial to determine if a visible respiratory function monitor (RFM) displaying realtime measurements of delivered inflations improves clinical providers ability to perform positive pressure ventilation (PPV) within a pre-defined target tidal volume in preterm infants after birth.
Fitbit Activity Tracker to Predict Risk of Preterm Birth
Preterm BirthPreterm DeliveryAlmost half of all deliveries in the United States are of nulliparous patients. They have been identified as an at-risk population for preterm birth. Historically, the most significant risk factor for preterm birth is a prior history of preterm birth, which cannot be applied to a nulliparous population. Forecasting adverse outcomes in first time moms is difficult to predict and prevent. Historically, physicians have prescribed a restriction in activity level for those at risk for preterm delivery. The utility of this intervention has yet to be prospectively and quantitatively studied. The Fitbit activity tracker is a wearable device that has been extensively used in medical research, in an attempt to quantitatively identify how patient activity levels can improve medical outcomes. The study uses the Fitbit device in nulliparous patients, remotely track their activity levels throughout pregnancy, and assess pregnancy outcomes. Because of the significant and long-standing health disparity in the incidence of preterm delivery, the investigators will use the "Everyday Discrimination Scale", a validated battery of racism and health to see how a patient's stress related to perceived discrimination may modify the risk of preterm delivery.
High Flow Nasal Cannula in Preterm Infants
Prematurity; ExtremeThe HIFLO study evaluates the impact of HFNC oxygen therapy on duration of nCPAP therapy, oxygen therapy and hospitalization. The cost of use of CPAP and two HFNC devices are also evaluated.