TITLE:
Correlation between Late Cord Clamping and Phototherapy and Other Neonatal Unfavorable Outcomes: A Randomized Clinical Trial
AUTHORS:
Janete Vettorazzi, Gabriela Françoes Rostirolla, Maria Alexandrina Zanatta, Edimárlei Gonsales Valério, Charles Francisco Ferreira, Jose Geraldo Lopes Ramos
KEYWORDS:
Phototherapy, Neonatal Anemia, Neonatal Jaundice, Late Cord Clamping
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology,
Vol.12 No.3,
March
22,
2022
ABSTRACT: Background: Recently, late umbilical cord clamping is generally
recommended, which decreases neonatal anemia; however, it
may also increase neonatal jaundice and some
other poor outcomes. Objectives: We here attempted to determine whether late clamping actually increases
the incidence of phototherapy for
jaundice and other poor outcomes of the term “low-risk newborns”. Methods: With the approval of the Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (REBEC), a total of 357 low-risk newborns
(singleton, uncomplicated pregnancy/delivery, in a Brazilian public institution)
were randomized into two groups: group I (n = 114):
cord clamping 1 minute (early clamping) or group II (n = 243):
cord clamping between
1 - 3 minutes (late clamping). Statistics were used appropriately (i.e., measures of central tendency, dispersion for continuous
variables, Shapiro-Wilk, Mann-Whitney
test, or Chi-square test). Results: Phototherapy was performed in 5.3% in both groups. Also, there
were no statistical differences in the occurrence of secondary outcomes, such as sepsis, neonatal ICU
admission, and transient tachypnea of the newborns: i.e., 0.9%, 15.8%, and 3.5%, respectively for group I versus 1.2%, 15.6%, and 5.8%,
respectively for group II. Conclusion: Late umbilical cord clamping does not increase
the need for phototherapy in low-risk neonates.
This result corroborates the current recommendation of late cord
clamping, whenever appropriate.