Amer Ullah Malik, Khurram Shahnawaz, Adeel Riaz.
Comparison between the Efficacy of Early and Delayed Umbilical Cord Clamping in Preterm Infants.
Pak J Med Health Sci Jan ;7(4):992-5.

Aim: To compare the efficacy of early and delayed umbilical cord clamping in preterm infants. Study design: Randomized control trial. Setting: Department of Pediatric Medicine, and Labour Room, Services Hospital, Lahore. Duration of study: From 08-01-2009 to 07-07-2009. Methods: Total 80 cases were selected (40 cases of early cord clamping and 40 cases of delayed cord clamping. Umbilical cord was clamped at 30 second of the birth of babies in group-A and at 120 seconds of the birth of baby in group-B. Results: Regarding sex distribution of babies, there were 20 males (50%) and 20 females (50%) in group-A, while 13 males (32.5%) and 27 females (67.5%) in group-B. Mean SD± gestational age in group-A was 34.3±1.6 weeks while in group-B it was 34.8±1.6.The difference between the gestational age of both groups was found to be statistically non-significant (p=0.131). Similarly mean SD± hematocrit in group-A and group-B was 34.2±2.4 and 45.7±4.2 respectively. The difference between the mean hematocrit of both groups was statistically significant (p<0.001). In group-A normal hematocrit (43.6±7.2) was observed in 6 cases (15%) and in group-B normal hematocrit was observed in 34 cases (85%). Low hematocrit was found in 34 cases (85%) and 2 cases (5%) in group-A and group-B respectively. High hematocrit (polycythemia) was found in 4 cases (10%) of group-B only. Conclusion: Delayed cord clamping is more effective than early cord clamping regarding preservation of normal hematocrit in preterm infants.

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