Umbilical cord milking reduces need for red cell transfusions and improves neonatal adaptation in preterm infants: Meta‐analysis. Issue 6 (6th February 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dang, Dan; Zhang, Chuan; Shi, Shan; Mu, Xin; Lv, Xiaoming; Wu, Hui
• Is Part Of: Journal of obstetrics and gynaecology research. Volume 41:Issue 6(2015:Jun.)
• Page Start: 890
• Page End: 895
• Publication Date: 2015-02-06
• Subjects: Gynecology -- Periodicals; Obstetrics -- Periodicals; 618.1005
• DOI: 10.1111/jog.12657
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1341-8076

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="jog12657-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Aim</title> <p>To assess effects of umbilical cord milking (UCM) on early blood pressure stabilization, hemoglobin (Hb), as well as incidence of transfusion and complications in preterm infants.</p> </sec> <sec id="jog12657-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>This meta‐analysis was conducted by searching the Pubmed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library (until July 2014) databases. Any clinical trials, including randomized control trials, comparing UCM to immediate cord clamping (ICC) were analyzed.</p> </sec> <sec id="jog12657-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Six studies were included in this meta‐analysis. In total, 292 preterm infants were treated with UCM, while 295 received ICC. Compared to ICC, UCM increased initial Hb significantly by 1.84 g/dL (weighted mean difference; 95%CI: 0.91–2.76; <italic>P</italic> < 0.0001) and decreased the incidence of transfusion with a pooled risk ratio of 0.74 (95%CI: 0.61–0.90; <italic>P</italic> = 0.002). Incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) and mortality were significantly lower with UCM compared with ICC. Apgar score and temperature were not significantly different between the two groups.</p> </sec> <sec id="jog12657-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>By facilitating the early stabilization of blood pressure, UCM at preterm birth was found to be comparatively safe and associated with lower blood transfusion exposure and lower incidence of IVH, NEC and death.</p> </sec> </abstract>