Clinical Research Directory

Predicting the Need for Prolonged Respiratory Support in Neonates Delivered in a Lower-Level NICU Setting

The purpose of this study is to analyze the gastric fluid aspirated from the stomachs of neonates receiving routine post-delivery care to predict the need for prolonged respiratory support (\>6 hours of life).

CAffeine Use in Prolonged Oxygen Use in meConium aspIration Syndrome in Neonatal Outcomes (CAPUCINO)

When babies are stressed in the womb, they sometimes pass meconium in the amniotic fluid. When this happens, they may swallow the meconium-stained fluid into their lungs which may cause them to have poor oxygen levels and require resuscitation and significant breathing support in the early hours after birth. This is referred to as Meconium Aspiration Syndrome (MAS). Some babies may recover slowly and require breathing and/or oxygen support for days. Caffeine is a drug that can help improve breathing efforts and is commonly used in premature babies who do not have regular or strong breathing efforts. Caffeine has been used in babies with MAS who recovered slowly (i.e. requiring breathing or oxygen support for a longer period) for several years now. Despite having success in many babies, there is no evidence to examine its effectiveness and mechanism of action. This pilot study proposes to look at the effects of caffeine in babies with MAS who require ongoing breathing and oxygen support. There will also be examination of whether caffeine improves breathing efforts with better lung opening using ultrasound images of the lungs.

Pulmonary Function Using Non-invasive Forced Oscillometry

The purpose of this observational study is to measure pulmonary function in term and preterm infants with and without pulmonary disease including respiratory distress syndrome, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, transient tachypnea of the newborn, meconium aspiration syndrome, and response to treatments given to newborn infants with lung diseases using a non-invasive airway oscillometry system.