Physiologically based cord clamping improves cardiopulmonary haemodynamics in lambs with a diaphragmatic hernia

Aidan J. Kashyap, Ryan J. Hodges, Marta Thio, Karyn A. Rodgers, Ben J. Amberg, Erin V. McGillick, Stuart B. Hooper, Kelly J. Crossley, Philip L.J. Dekoninck

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Abstract

Objective: Lung hypoplasia associated with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) results in respiratory insufficiency and pulmonary hypertension after birth. We have investigated whether aerating the lung before removing placental support (physiologically based cord clamping (PBCC)), improves the cardiopulmonary transition in lambs with a CDH. Methods: At ≈138 days of gestational age, 17 lambs with surgically induced left-sided diaphragmatic hernia (≈d80) were delivered via caesarean section. The umbilical cord was clamped either immediately prior to ventilation onset (immediate cord clamping (ICC); n=6) or after achieving a target tidal volume of 4 mL/kg, with a maximum delay of 10 min (PBCC; n=11). Lambs were ventilated for 120 min and physiological changes recorded. Results: Pulmonary blood flow (PBF) increased following ventilation onset in both groups, but was 19-fold greater in PBCC compared with ICC lambs at cord clamping (19±6.3 vs 1.0±0.5 mL/min/kg, p<0.001). Cerebral tissue oxygenation was higher in PBCC than ICC lambs during the first 10 min after cord clamping (59%±4% vs 30%±5%, p<0.001). PBF was threefold higher (23±4 vs 8±2 mL/min/kg, p=0.01) and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) was threefold lower (0.6±0.1 vs 2.2±0.6 mm Hg/(mL/min), p<0.001) in PBCC lambs compared with ICC lambs at 120 min after ventilation onset. Conclusions: Compared with ICC, PBCC prevented the severe asphyxia immediately after birth and resulted in a higher PBF due to a lower PVR, which persisted for at least 120 min after birth in CDH lambs.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)F18-F25
Number of pages8
JournalArchives of Disease in Childhood: Fetal and Neonatal Edition
Volume105
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jan 2020

Keywords

  • congenital diaphragmatic hernia
  • neonatal transition
  • perinatal care
  • pulmonary hypertension

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