RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of delayed cord clamping (DCC) for 45 seconds on hemoglobin at birth and close to discharge in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants and to compare modes of delivery in infants who received DCC. STUDY DESIGN: In a retrospective study, 888 VLBW infants (≤1,500 g) who survived to discharge and received immediate cord clamping (ICC) were compared with infants who received DCC. Infants who received DCC and born via Cesarean section (C-section) were compared with those born via vaginal birth. RESULTS: A total of 555 infants received ICC and 333 DCC. Only 188 out of 333 VLBW infants (56.5%) born during the DCC period received DCC. DCC was associated with higher hemoglobin at birth (15.9 vs. 14.9 g/dL, p = 0.001) and close to discharge (10.7 vs. 10.1 g/dL, p < 0.001) and reduced need for blood transfusion (39.4 vs. 54.9%, p < 0.001). In the DCC group, hemoglobin at birth and close to discharge was similar in infants born via C-section and vaginal birth. CONCLUSION: DCC for 45 seconds increased hemoglobin at birth and close to discharge and reduced need for blood transfusion in VLBW infants. DCC for 45 seconds was equally effective for infants born by C-section and vaginal delivery. Approximately 44% of VLBW infants did not receive DCC even after implementing DCC guidelines. KEY POINTS: · Studies to date have shown that DCC improves mortality and short- and long-term outcomes in VLBW infants.. · No consistent guidelines for the duration of DCC in preterm and term neonates.. · DCC for 45 seconds increased hemoglobin at birth and close to discharge in VLBW infants..
RESUMO
The differential diagnosis of third trimester bleeding can range from placenta abruptia to placenta previa to uterine rupture and the placenta accreta spectrum (PAS). However, patients with risk factors such as multiple cesarean sections (c-sections), advanced maternal age (AMA), grand multiparity, and single-layer uterine closure are at greater risk of developing these complications earlier than we would traditionally expect. This case recounts a 38-year-old gravida 6 preterm 3 term 1 abortus 1 live 4 (G6P3114) at 23 weeks and five days gestational age (GA) with a past medical history of preterm pregnancy, pre-eclampsia, chronic abruptia, three previous c-sections, and low-lying placenta who presented to the emergency department (ED) with vaginal bleeding. Initial workup revealed placenta accreta and possible percreta. The patient was placed on intramuscular (IM) corticosteroids in anticipation of preterm delivery. As soon as the patient was stable, she was discharged home. She presented to a different hospital the next day with the same complaints. Imaging was consistent with accreta and her presentation with abruption. During the hospital stay, the patient went into threatened preterm labor (PTL). At first, we suspected preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) due to apparent pooling of amniotic fluid in the vaginal canal. Upon further work up, the diagnosis was consistent with chronic abruption oligohydramnios sequence (CAOS). Before this could be investigated, her hospital course was complicated by acute abruption and Category III/nonreassuring fetal heart rate (FHR) tracing. The patient underwent an emergency c-section at 26 weeks GA as well as a planned supracervical hysterectomy for desired permanent sterilization. During the operation, the patient suffered a postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) of 4500 mL. She was later discharged home on postoperative day (POD) eight.