Term babies with delayed cord clamping: an approach in preventing anemia (.).

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the effects of delayed and early clamping of the cord on the hematologic status of the baby at birth and at the end of second month. METHODS: Umbilical cord of 74 babies were clamped in the first 30 s (Group 1) and 76 were clamped at 90-120 s (Group 2). Levels of hemoglobin, hematocrit, iron and ferritin were analyzed from the umbilical cord blood at birth and from the venous samples at the end of second month. RESULTS: Hemoglobin, hematocrit, iron and ferritin levels of cord blood were similar in both groups. However, their levels other than ferritin were higher in Group 2 at the end of second month. Two babies had respiratory distress and twelve neonates received phototherapy in Group 2 whereas only five neonates received phototherapy in Group 1. CONCLUSION: Term babies to whom delayed cord clamping was performed had improved hematological parameters at the end of second month. Therefore, delaying cord clamping in these babies may be a favorible approach in preventing anemia.

Palivizumab prophylaxis: does it have any influence on the growth and development of the infants?

AIM: To evaluate the rehospitalization rates of premature infants who received palivizumab prophylaxis and its influence on the growth and development of these infants. METHODS: Infants with a gestational age of less than 32 weeks were randomized to receive prophylaxis with palivizumab (study group) or nothing (control group). Nasal swab samples were obtained monthly in all cases and also in case of infection and hospitalization. At the corrected age of 18 months Guide for Monitoring Child Development (GMCD) was administered to all patients and anthropometric indices were evaluated. RESULTS: The study was completed with 39 infants in the study group and 40 infants in the control group. Incidence of hospitalization due to respiratory syncitial virus (RSV) was found to be significantly lower in the study group both at the year of prophylaxis and in the following year (p = 0.001, odds ratio 1.32 [1.11-1.57]). There were no significant differences in terms of anthropometric indices or GMCD tests between the groups at the corrected age of 18 months. CONCLUSION: Palivizumab reduced the incidence of lower respiratory tract infections and hospitalizations due to RSV both in the year of prophylaxis and in the following year. However, this decrease did not have any impact on the development of infants.