Clinical Research Directory

Pragmatic Evaluation of Respiratory Distress Syndrome Treatment in Africa

The goal of this pragmatic clinical trial is to learn if the drug surfactant given by a less invasive technique works to treat respiratory distress in preterm infants in low- and middle-income African countries where invasive ventilators are unavailable. It will also learn about the safety of the less invasive surfactant administration (LISA) technique. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does surfactant given by a less invasive surfactant administration technique improve survival in preterm infants in low- and middle-income countries? What medical problems do participants have when receiving surfactant given by the less invasive surfactant administration technique? Researchers will implement the less invasive surfactant administration technique and see if it works to treat respiratory distress in preterm infants compared to preterm who did not receive surfactant. Participants with respiratory distress who are being treated with continuous positive airway pressure and caffeine citrate will: Receive surfactant replacement therapy by the less invasive surfactant administration technique. Be monitored for complications Be followed throughout their hospitalization to determine their survival rate.

Optimising Breathing Support at Extubation in Very Preterm Infants: A Clinical Study

Many babies born very preterm (\<32 weeks of pregnancy) require support to breathe from a breathing machine (mechanical ventilator) via a breathing tube. Although this keeps babies alive, it can damage their lungs. To reduce this damage, doctors and nurses try to change babies to gentler breathing support that does not require a breathing tube. This is usually done using a method called nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) that uses a nosepiece to deliver breaths. This process of removing the breathing tube is called "extubation". Many babies will need the breathing tube put back in after extubation (for various reasons) and this is independently associated with poorer outcomes. This research study aims to compare two ways of performing extubation - both of which are already used regularly by doctors and nurses. The "standard extubation" approach involves taking a baby's breathing tube out first, then applying the nosepiece and starting nCPAP. The more recent approach, called "prePAP", involves applying the nosepiece and starting nCPAP before taking the breathing tube out. Previous research suggests that a prePAP approach may provide better support for babies during extubation. However, larger studies are required before this approach is more commonly used. This study is investigating whether extubating the baby with prePAP is better than extubating the baby without prePAP. The main question it aims to answer is: Does initiating nCPAP before extubation in very preterm babies reduce the fall in their oxygen levels post-extubation?

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).

Utilization of Lung Ultrasound Score in Decision for Minimally Invasive Surfactant Administration

This prospective randomized controlled study aims to determine if using a lung ultrasound score can lead to a faster diagnosis of severe respiratory distress syndrome and quicker administration of surfactant in moderately and late-preterm infants. The research will involve 100 infants, with 67 in the prospective group and 33 serving as controls. The primary goal is to shorten the time to treatment for these vulnerable newborns. The study will also assess whether this ultrasound-guided approach improves short-term respiratory outcomes. These secondary objectives include measuring any decrease in the need for and duration of mechanical ventilation, the length of non-invasive respiratory support, and the overall need for oxygen. The study population includes infants born between 27 and 34 6/7 weeks of gestation who are admitted to the NICU. Each participant will be monitored from birth until they are discharged or transferred. This research aligns with a growing body of evidence suggesting that lung ultrasound can be a valuable tool in neonatal care, potentially leading to earlier and more precise treatment for respiratory distress syndrome.

30% or 60% Oxygen at Birth to Improve Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in Very Low Birthweight Infants

Preterm birth, or birth before 37 weeks' gestation, is increasingly common, occurring in 8 percent of pregnancies in Canada. Preterm birth is associated with many health complications, particularly when the birth happens before 29 weeks' gestation. At this gestational age, the lungs are not fully developed and it is not uncommon for infants to have problems breathing at the time of birth. One complication that can arise is when an infant stops breathing and needs to be resuscitated. When preterm babies need to be resuscitated doctors must take special care because of the small infant size and the immaturity of the brain and lungs. Oxygen is used to resuscitate babies who need it, but unfortunately there is disagreement about the best oxygen concentration to use. Oxygen concentration is important because both too much and too little oxygen can cause brain injury. This research aims to fill this knowledge gap by participating in an international clinical trial to compare the effects of resuscitating babies less than 29 weeks' gestational age with either a low oxygen concentration or a high oxygen concentration. The oxygen concentrations have been selected using the best available knowledge. This will be a cluster randomized trial where each participating hospital will be randomized to either 30 or 60 percent oxygen for the recruitment of 30 infants, and afterwards randomized to the other group for the recruitment of another 30 infants. After the trial, the investigator will determine whether the babies resuscitated with low oxygen or those resuscitated with high oxygen have better survival and long-term health outcomes. This research fills a critical knowledge gap in the care of extremely preterm babies and will impact their survival both here in Canada and internationally.

Speed of Lung Inflation During Ventilation of Extremely Preterm Infants

Babies born extremely preterm (\<28 weeks of pregnancy) require support to breathe. Some babies require help to breathe from a breathing machine (mechanical ventilator). While this keeps babies alive, it may damage their lungs. To reduce this damage, doctors and nurses take particular care to try and provide the gentlest breathing support possible. However, evidence is still required to determine how to best support babies' breathing, whilst preventing lung damage and longer-term lung problems. This clinical trial aims to compare two ways of adjusting a common setting on the breathing machine. This setting is called the pressure rise time or PRT. The PRT determines how quickly the breathing machine inflates a premature baby's lungs. A short PRT quickly inflates the lungs. A long PRT inflates the lungs more slowly. Previous research suggests that more slowly inflating the baby's lungs may cause less lung damage and still allow oxygen to be delivered to and carbon dioxide to be cleared from the lungs. However, larger studies are required to determine whether this should become the standard treatment. This study investigates whether inflating the baby's lungs more slowly (long PRT) using the breathing machine is as effective as the PRT setting currently used (short PRT, more quickly inflating the lungs). The main question it aims to answer is: Does how quickly the breathing machine inflates an extremely preterm baby's lung impact their oxygen levels?

Surfactant Therapy Via Supraglottic Airway to Preterm Neonates With RDS in Vietnam

Preterm babies often have trouble breathing because their lungs are not fully developed. This condition is called respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). A medicine called surfactant helps their lungs open up and work better. It is usually given through a procedure called INSURE, where a breathing tube is placed into the baby's trachea (via an endotracheal tube) to deliver the medicine. While effective, this method is invasive and can be uncomfortable and risky for the baby. A newer, less invasive method called SALSA uses a soft mask placed in the throat (a laryngeal mask airway) instead of an endotracheal tube to give the surfactant. This randomized controlled trial will compare SALSA to the traditional INSURE method to see if it works just as well in preventing the need for invasive breathing support within three days of treatment. The study will include preterm babies born before 34 weeks of pregnancy and weighing at least 750 grams, at Phu San Hanoi Hospital in Vietnam. If SALSA is found to be safe and effective, it may offer a gentler, less invasive, and easier-to-perform option for treating respiratory distress syndrome in premature babies.

Respiratory Effect of the LISA Method with Sedation by Propofol Versus Absence of Sedation.

The investigators propose to evaluate premedication with Propofol compared to a control strategy including a placebo with a possible rescue treatment with ketamine to ensure pain control before LISA Procedure . Investigators hypothesize that sedation with Propofol is safe and non-inferior to placebo for the risk of Mechanical Ventilation in the 72 hours following the procedure.

Effect of Implementing Evidence Based Practices on Prevention of Associated Nasal Pressure Injuries Among Preterm Neonates With Non-Invasive Respiratory Support

This study aims to evaluate the effect of implementing evidence based practices on prevention of associated nasal pressure injuries among preterm neonates with non invasive respiratory support

Prophylactic Surfactant by Thin Endotracheal Catheter for Preterm Infants At Birth: the ProTeCt Trial

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether giving surfactant through a thin endotracheal catheter to extremely premature babies shortly after birth reduces the number of them who are ventilated in the first 3 days of life. The main question it aims to answer is: Do fewer babies who receive prophylactic thin catheter surfactant under video laryngoscopy shortly after birth go on to be ventilated within 72 hours of birth? Extremely premature babies who are receiving breathing support through a face mask will either: * Receive surfactant through a thin catheter that is inserted into their windpipe (trachea) under video laryngoscopy at or after 5 minutes of life, have the catheter removed immediately, and return to face mask breathing support; or * Continue on face mask breathing support. All babies will be closely watched to see whether they are ventilated for breathing support in the first 72 hours of life.

The NONA-LISA Trial

The NONA-LISA trial will be an investigator-initiated, multicentre, pragmatic, parallel-group, blinded RCT conducted at four university hospitals across Denmark. A total of 324 inborn premature infants will be included within 36 months at four neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) across Denmark (approximately 2 infants per month per unit). The aim is to compare LISA using a non-pharmacological approach alone with routine analgesic treatment combined with a non-pharmacological approach (according to local guidelines) regarding LISA failure defined as the need for positive pressure ventilation for 30 min or more (cumulated) within 24 hours after the procedure in infants born prior to 30 gestational weeks.

Effect of Nasal CPAP Versus NIPPV On Diaphragm Electrical Activity (Edi) In VLBW Preterm Infants

Background: In premature babies, many organ systems are not fully grown and developed, including the lungs and respiratory muscles, so they will need breathing support to help them to breathe by preventing their tiny air sacs to collapse. This support commonly done by CPAP and Non-Invasive Positive Pressure Ventilation (NIPPV) therapy by giving some pressure and oxygen to their lungs through an interface placed on their noses. Both (CPAP and NIPPV) can be used as a support modality for respiratory distress syndrome, apnea of prematurity, and providing breathing support after extubation from the full mechanical breathing support. The CPAP supports the baby's immature lungs by delivering constant pressure to keep their lungs and breathing well supported. Whereas the NIPPV will use constant pressure in the background (similar to CPAP), and on top, it will give extra intermittent puffs at regular intervals to support the baby's breathing. The NIPPV is the most common choice by the clinicians when the traditional CPAP is no longer effective, to avoid the full mechanical breathing support and to protect the developing lungs. Studies suggested that NIPPV is better than the traditional CPAP in reducing the need of the baby to need full mechanical breathing support. This might be because the investigators tend to use lower pressures with CPAP (5-8 cmH2O) compared to relatively higher pressures with NIPPV. More recently, clinicians showed the safety of using equivalent higher CPAP pressures (\>9 cmH2O) to what the investigators use in the NIPPV in preterm babies. One way to measure the support that the investigators are giving to the patient with the different devices is to measure the diaphragm activity, which the investigators call the Edi signal, using a special feeding catheter and a specific machine to measure it. The catheter is placed and used as a routine feeding tube but has sensors at the end to measure this Edi signal. One opening of the tube will be connected to a computer to record the Edi signals. The other opening of the tube will be used for feeding.

Physiologically Based Cord Clamping To Improve Neonatal Outcomes In Moderate And Late Preterm Newborns

Before birth, the baby's lungs are filled with fluid and babies do not use the lungs to breathe, as the oxygen comes from the placenta. As delivery approaches, the lungs begin to absorb the fluid. After vaginal delivery, the umbilical cord is clamped and cut after a delay that allows some of the blood in the umbilical cord and placenta to flow back into the baby. Meanwhile, as the baby breathes for the first time, the lungs fill with air and more fluid is pushed out. However, it does not always work out that way. A baby born prematurely may have breathing problems because of extra fluid staying in the lungs related to the immaturity of the lung structure. Thus, the baby must breathe quicker and harder to get enough oxygen enter into the lungs. The newborn is separated from the mother to provide emergency respiratory support. Although the baby is usually getting better within one or two days, the treatment requires close monitoring, breathing help, and nutritional help as the baby is too tired to suck and swallow milk. Sometimes, the baby cannot recover well and show greater trouble breathing needing intensive care. This further separates the mother and her baby. A possible mean to help the baby to adapt better after a premature birth while staying close to the mother is to delay cord clamping when efficient breathing is established, either spontaneously or after receiving breathing help at birth. In this study, we intend to test this procedure in moderate or late preterm infants and see whether the technique helps the baby to better adapt after birth and to better initiate a deep bond with the mother.