Clinical Research Directory

Higher-Dose Dexamethasone Improves Breathing and Shortens NICU Stay in Preterm Babies

The goal of this observational study was to compare two doses of dexamethasone given to pregnant women at risk of preterm birth. Dexamethasone is a medicine used before birth to help a baby's lungs mature. This study looked at preterm babies born between 26 and 36 weeks of pregnancy. Researchers compared babies whose mothers received dexamethasone 12 mg every 12 hours for 48 hours with babies whose mothers received dexamethasone 6 mg every 12 hours for 48 hours. The main questions this study aimed to answer were: * Did the higher dose of dexamethasone help preterm babies need breathing support for a shorter time? * Did the higher dose help shorten the babies' stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)? * Was the higher dose as safe as the lower dose for babies and mothers? Researchers reviewed medical records from Stella Maris Women's and Children's Hospital from January 2018 to January 2023. They looked at neonatal outcomes, including breathing support, respiratory distress syndrome, length of NICU stay, low blood sugar in babies, infection in mothers, and developmental problems at 24 months.

Delayed Versus Immediate Cord Clamping in Preterm Birth

The goal of this study is to evaluate whether delayed cord clamping improves early neonatal outcomes compared with immediate clamping in preterm birth. Preterm infants are at higher risk of neonatal complications, and the timing of cord clamping may influence placental transfusion and neonatal adaptation after birth. Delayed cord clamping may increase blood volume, improve iron stores, and reduce some neonatal morbidities, while immediate cord clamping is still commonly practiced in many settings. In this study, preterm newborns are assigned to either delayed or immediate cord clamping according to a predefined protocol. Early neonatal outcomes, including respiratory status, need for resuscitation, hemoglobin levels, and early morbidity and mortality, will be assessed. The study is conducted in a tertiary maternity center in Tunisia.

Advanced MRI in IVH

55,000 babies are born prematurely in the UK annually. Bleeding in the fluid spaces of the brain (ventricles) is common after prematurity; in England around 450 babies suffer from severe bleeds every year. This is the most important cause of neurological disability after prematurity. Bleeding occurs in the first week of life when the brain is developing rapidly and is most vulnerable to injury. The blood and its breakdown products in the brain fluid (cerebrospinal fluid, CSF) are toxic to the developing brain and cause scarring that blocks the flow and absorption of CSF. In about half these babies, this causes fluid build-up, or post-haemorrhagic ventricular dilatation (PHVD). Current standard treatment of PHVD only drains CSF to reduce pressure inside the brain. Following early results and a successful pilot study at GOSH, we developed an NIHR-funded randomised national trial to analyse the impact of an operation to wash out blood inside the brain using a small endoscope. We will compare standard treatment (fluid drainage alone) with washout plus drainage of fluid. Premature babies typically undergo an MRI scan of the brain at their expected birth time to assess their brain injury, predict the severity of their disability and see what early rehabilitation and treatment they need. In this study we will use new MRI techniques during this scan at GOSH and Alder Hey Hospital to better understand the extent of brain injury in relation to brain structure, function and brain fluid flow. We want to see whether these will show the impact of the washout procedure, tell us about how washout works, and improve prediction of the child's disability and early treatment needs. If successful, we will apply for further funding to extend these techniques to the other centres in the UK and maximise their benefit within the NHS.

The Correlation Between Red Cell Transfusion and Complications of Prematurity

The aim of this clinical trial is to learn if there is a correlation between the erythrocyte transfusion in the early neonatal period in premature infants and early and late complications of prematurity. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Do premature infants who receive blood transfusions within their first month of life have a higher risk of early prematurity complications, such as retinopathy of prematurity, necrotising enterocolitis, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and intraventricular haemorrhage? * Do premature infants who receive blood transfusions during their first month of life have worse neurological and neurodevelopmental outcomes than those who do not? The first part of the study is retrospective, using data collected from participants' histories. The second part is prospective, evaluating neurological and neurodevelopmental outcomes at the age of six years.