Weaning Preterm Infants at 1500 Grams From Incubators

Preterm Infants Clinical Trial

Official title: A Randomized Trial of Weaning Preterm Infants at 1500g From Incubators: Effect on Failure to Wean, Weight Gain and Energy Expenditure

Status Completed

Clinical Trial Summary

Background: The weight at which infants are weaned from incubators varies among neonatal units.

Objective: To determine the effect on weight gain, temperature stability and resting energy expenditure (REE) of weaning infants at body weight of 1500 g versus 1600 g.

Design/Methods: infants will be randomized to incubator weaning at the weight of 1500 g or 1600 g. Preterm infants 1500 g birth weight, fully enterally fed, and without supplemental oxygen, at the postnatal age of 2 weeks will be included. Infants will be weaned to a warming bassinet (Babytherm 8000, Dräger) set to keep a mattress temperature of 37°C while decreasing it gradually to room temperature. Failure to wean is defined as core body temperature of < 36.1°C. Data collection included skin and rectal temperature obtained before weaning, and at 1/2, 1, 2, 6, 24, and 48 hours after weaning, weekly weight gain (g/kg/d). REE (kcal/kg/24h) will be measured by indirect calorimetry (Deltatrac II, Finland) before and 24 hours after weaning.

Clinical Trial Description

Eligible infants will be randomized by computer generated random numbers, to either the study group weaned at 1500 g or the control group weaned at 1600 g. Both groups will be weaned to a warming bassinet (Babytherm 8000, Drager). The Babytherm 8000 WB is an open care infant warming system with a warmed gel mattress with temperature control . The system is set to keep the mattress temperature of 37 degrees Celsius while decreasing it gradually to 32 0C and shutting the system off. On transfer to the Babytherm infants are dressed with a hat and two vests. Only after the infant maintained a normal body temperature under these conditions he could be transferred to an open bassinet. Failure to wean was defined as core body temperature of <36.10C.

Data collection included skin and rectal temperature obtained before weaning, and at 1/2, 1, 2, 6, 24, and 48 hours after weaning, daily and weekly weight gain (g/kg/d). Resting Energy Expenditure- REE (kcal/kg/24h) is measured by indirect calorimetry (Deltatrac II, Finland) before and 24 hours after weaning to the warming bassinet.

Data Collection included: PR temperature after 30 min, 60 min, 2 hours, 6 hours, 24 hours, after which temperatures were taken 4-hourly until 48 hours (degrees C), skin (axillary) temperature (degrees C), after 30 min, 60 min, 2 hours, 6 hours, and than again every 4 hours until 48 hours. REE (kcal/kg/24h)rate of hypothermia requiring return to the incubator, weight gain after 24 hours of weaning and over 1 week.( g/kg/d),time to discharge ( days). ;

Study Design

Allocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Safety/Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Factorial Assignment, Masking: Open Label, Primary Purpose: Treatment

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Premature Birth
• Preterm Infants

• NCT number: NCT01083303
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: May 2005
• Completion date: May 2009