A Randomized Trial of Conditioned or Unconditioned Gases for Stabilizing Preterm Infants at Birth

Lorraine McGrory, Louise S. Owen, Marta Thio, Jennifer A. Dawson, Anthony R. Rafferty, Atul Malhotra, Peter G. Davis, C. Omar F. Kamlin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer-review

31 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Objective: To determine whether the use of heated-humidified gases for respiratory support during the stabilization of infants <30 weeks of gestational age (GA) in the delivery room reduces rates of hypothermia on admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Study design: A multicenter, unblinded, randomized trial was conducted in Melbourne, Australia, between February 2013 and June 2015. Infants <30 weeks of GA were randomly assigned to receive either heated-humidified gases or unconditioned gases during stabilization in the delivery room and during transport to NICU. Infants born to mothers with pyrexia >38°C were excluded. Primary outcome was rate of hypothermia on NICU admission (rectal temperature <36.5°C). Results: A total of 273 infants were enrolled. Fewer infants in the heated-humidified group were hypothermic on admission to NICU (36/132 [27%]) compared with controls (61/141 [43%], P <.01). There was no difference in rates of hyperthermia (>37.5°C); 20% (27/132) in the heated-humidified group compared with 16% (22/141) in the controls (P =.30). There were no differences in mortality or respiratory outcomes. Conclusions: The use of heated-humidified gases in the delivery room significantly reduces hypothermia on admission to NICU in preterm infants, without increased risk of hyperthermia. Clinical Trial Registration: Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Register (www.anzctr.org.au) ACTRN12613000093785.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)47-53
Number of pages7
JournalThe Journal of Pediatrics
Volume193
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Feb 2018

Keywords

  • delivery room
  • gas conditioning
  • humidification
  • hypothermia
  • newborn resuscitation
  • newborn stabilization
  • respiratory support

Cite this