Clinical Research Directory

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.

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).

ADINA vs. High Flow Nasal Cannula Comparison Study

This study is to evaluate the feasibility of using a pressure limited nasal cannula system instead of a high flow nasal cannula system in the management of premature babies with respiratory distress.

Comparison of the Silverman-Andersen Score and the Downes Score

This study aimed to compare the Silverman-Andersen score and the Downes score in predicting noninvasive ventilation (NIPPV) failure in preterm and term infants who received NIPPV support due to postnatal respiratory distress, as well as to evaluate the agreement of these scoring systems with other methods used to assess the severity of respiratory distress. The present study was designed as a prospective, multicenter, observational study conducted with neonates undergoing noninvasive ventilation.

Heterogeneity Index in Neonatologist-performed Lung Ultrasound in Neonates Receiving Respiratory Support - a Pilot Study

Lung ultrasound is an increasingly valuable diagnostic tool in neonatal intensive care due to its safety and accessability. This pilot study investigates whether a quantitative approach - the heterogeneity index, previously only used in fetal lung assessment - can enhance the diagnostic accuracy of neonatologist-performed lung ultrasound (NPLUS). The index will be calculated from raw ultrasound images of preterm and term neonates and compared with conventional lung ultrasound scores to evaluate its clinical relevance.