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ObjectiveTo evaluate outcomes of preterm infants <26 weeks gestational age (GA) following postdelivery extensive cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) compared with airway and breathing support (ABS).Study designRetrospective review of Canadian Neonatal Network data during January 2010 to December 2016. The primary outcome was death or severe morbidity (intraventricular hemorrhage ≥grade 3 or periventricular leucomalacia, retinopathy of prematurity ≥stage 3, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, or necrotizing enterocolitis).ResultAmong 3633 infants analyzed, 433 (11.9%) received ECPR. In multivariable analysis, death or severe morbidity was higher in the ECPR versus ABS group [adjusted odds ratio 2.26 (95% confidence interval 1.49, 3.43)]. The majority of the difference was due to increased mortality, which occurred mostly during the first week of life.ConclusionThese data from a recent cohort of infants near the limits of viability may be useful for prognostication for health care providers and counseling of parents.

ObjectiveTo compare the characteristics and outcomes of neonates with mild hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) who received hypothermia versus standard care.Study designWe conducted a retrospective cohort study of neonates ≥35 weeks’ gestation and ≥1800 g admitted with a diagnosis of Sarnat stage 1 encephalopathy. We evaluated length of hospital stay, duration of ventilation, evidence of brain injury on MRI, and neonatal morbidities.ResultsOf 1089 eligible neonates, 393 (36%) received hypothermia and 595 (55%) had neuroimaging. The hypothermia group was more likely to be outborn, born via C-section, had lower Apgar scores, and required extensive resuscitation. They had longer durations of stay (9 vs. 6 days, P < 0.001), respiratory support (3 vs. 2 days, P < 0.001), but lower odds of brain injury on MRI (adjusted odds ratio 0.33, 95% CI: 0.22–0.52) compared with standard care group.ConclusionDespite prolongation of hospital stay, hypothermia may be potentially beneficial in neonates with mild HIE; however, selection bias cannot be ruled out.

ObjectiveTo characterize variations in practices and outcomes for neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) treated with therapeutic hypothermia (TH) across Canadian tertiary Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs).Study designRetrospective study of neonates admitted for HIE and treated with TH in 24 tertiary NICUs from the Canadian Neonatal Network, 2010–2020. The two primary outcomes of mortality before discharge and MRI-detected brain injury were compared across NICUs using adjusted standardized ratios (SR) with 95% CI.ResultsOf the 3261 neonates that received TH, 367 (11%) died and 1033 (37%) of the 2822 with MRI results had brain injury. Overall, rates varied significantly across NICUs for mortality (range 5–17%) and brain injury (range 28–51%). Significant variations in use of inotropes, inhaled nitric oxide, blood products, and feeding during TH were identified (p values < 0.01).ConclusionSignificant variations exist in practices and outcomes of HIE neonates treated with hypothermia across Canada.

ObjectiveTo describe the incidence, trends, management’s variability and short-term outcomes of preterm infants with severe post-hemorrhagic ventricular dilatation (sPHVD).MethodsWe reviewed infants <33 weeks’ gestation who had PHVD and were admitted to the Canadian Neonatal Network between 2010 and 2018. We compared perinatal characteristics and short-term outcomes between those with sPHVD and those with mild/moderate PHVD and those with and without ventriculo-peritoneal (VP) shunt.ResultsOf 29,417 infants, 2439 (8%) had PHVD; rate increased from 7.3% in 2010 to 9.6% in 2018 (P = 0.005). Among infants with PHVD, sPHVD (19%) and VP shunt (29%) rates varied significantly across Canadian centers and between geographic regions (P < 0.01 and P = 0.0002). On multivariable analysis, sPHVD was associated with greater mortality, seizures and meningitis compared to mild/moderate PHVD.ConclusionsSignificant variability in sPHVD and VP shunt rates exists between centers and regions in Canada. sPHVD was associated with increased mortality and morbidities.

ObjectiveTo examine the association between probiotic use and antimicrobial utilization.Study designWe retrospectively evaluated very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants admitted to tertiary neonatal intensive care units in Canada between 2014 and 2019. Our outcome was antimicrobial utilization rate (AUR) defined as number of days of antimicrobial exposure per 1000 patient-days.ResultOf 16,223 eligible infants, 7279 (45%) received probiotics. Probiotic use rate increased from 10% in 2014 to 68% in 2019. The AUR was significantly lower in infants who received probiotics vs those who did not (107 vs 129 per 1000 patient-days, aRR = 0.89, 95% CI [0.81, 0.98]). Among 13,305 infants without culture-proven sepsis or necrotizing enterocolitis ≥Stage 2, 5931 (45%) received probiotics. Median AUR was significantly lower in the probiotic vs the no-probiotic group (78 vs 97 per 1000 patient-days, aRR = 0.85, 95% CI [0.74, 0.97]).ConclusionProbiotic use was associated with a significant reduction in AUR among VLBW infants.

ObjectiveTo examine the differences and trends of outcomes of preterm boys and girls born at <29 weeks’ gestation.DesignA retrospective cohort study.SettingData collected by the Canadian Neonatal Network.PatientsNeonates born at <29 weeks’ gestation between January 2007 and December 2016.Main outcome measuresWe examined rate differences in mortality, major morbidities (bronchopulmonary dysplasia, severe brain injury, retinopathy of prematurity, necrotising enterocolitis and late-onset sepsis) and care practices (antenatal steroids, magnesium sulfate, maternal antibiotics, ventilation and surfactant administration) between boys and girls and evaluated trends in these rate differences over the study period. Our primary outcome was a composite of mortality and any one of the five morbidities.ResultsOur study included 8219 boys and 6934 girls with median gestational age of 26 (IQR 25–28) weeks. The composite of death or major morbidity was more common in boys (adjusted risk ratio 1.07, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.10) and remained higher in boys over the study period. The gap between boys and girls for mortality, however, decreased over time: the slope for boys was −0.043 (95% CI −0.071 to −0.015) and for girls was −0.012 (95% CI −0.045 to 0.020) (p=0.04). All other morbidities remained higher in boys. Care practices changed at similar rates between the sexes.ConclusionThe difference between the mortality rates for boys and girls decreased over the study period but the difference between rates of the major morbidities was unchanged. More research is needed to understand biological differences and outcome disparities.

Background Delayed cord clamping (DCC) at birth for at least 30 seconds has been recommended as the standard of care for preterm infants. However, other strategies like umbilical cord milking (UCM) and early cord clamping (ECC) are still being practiced. Objectives To investigate the frequency and trend of practicing different strategies for managing the umbilical cord at birth (ECC, UCM, and DCC) in preterm infants and to compare the short-term outcomes of these strategies. Design/Methods We conducted a retrospective review of maternal, perinatal and neonatal data of preterm infants born at <33 weeks’ gestation who were admitted to NICUs participating in the Canadian Neonatal Network Database between January 2015 and December 2017. Infants planned for palliative care and those with major congenital anomalies were excluded. Patients who received ECC (<30 seconds), UCM or DCC (≥ 30 seconds) were compared. Multiple logistic regression model with generalized estimation equation (GEE) approach was used to compare the outcomes among the three strategies adjusted for confounders. Results Of 12749 patients admitted during the three-year study period, 9729 infants were included. 4916 (50.5%) received ECC, 394 (4.1%) received UCM and 4419 (45.4%) received DCC. The trend of practicing UCM and DCC has increased over study years (p<0.001)-Figure 1. Maternal and neonatal characteristics are shown in Table 1. After adjustment for potential confounders identified as significantly different between groups on univariate analysis, patients who received DCC had higher birth weight and lower odds of Apgar score <4 at 5 minutes, surfactant administration, inotropic support in first 48hrs, receiving blood transfusions, intraventricular hemorrhage, sepsis, patent ductus arteriosus, and mortality than those who received ECC (Table 2). DCC patients had also lower odds of intubations, surfactant use and severe IVH than those who received UCM. On the other hand, UCM patients had higher admission temperature than the ECC and DCC groups. Neither DCC nor UCM was associated with any adverse effects when compared to ECC. Conclusion The practice of DCC and UCM for preterm infants has increased over the last three years in Canadian NICUs. However, 44% of patients still received ECC in 2017.This study confirms the significant beneficial effects of DCC on the short-term outcomes in preterm infants.

Deferred cord clamping (DCC) is recommended for term and preterm neonates to reduce neonatal complications. Information on the association of DCC with outcomes for extremely low-gestational-age neonates is limited. To compare neonatal outcomes after DCC and immediate cord clamping (ICC) in extremely low-gestational-age neonates. In this retrospective cohort study, eligible neonates born between January 1, 2011, and December 31, 2015, were divided into 2 groups: DCC and ICC. Neonates were recruited from tertiary neonatal intensive care units participating in the Canadian Neonatal Network, and analysis began in January 2018. Neonates were eligible if they were born at 22 to 28 weeks' gestational age and admitted to a participating Canadian Neonatal Network neonatal intensive care unit during the study period. Neonates who were born outside a tertiary-level neonatal intensive care unit, were moribund at birth, needed palliative care before delivery, had major congenital anomalies, or lacked cord clamping information were excluded. Composite of severe neurological injury (intraventricular hemorrhage grade ≥3 with or without persistent periventricular echogenicity) or mortality before discharge. Of 8221 admitted neonates, 4680 were included in the study, of whom 1852 (39.6%) received DCC and 2828 (60.4%) received ICC. There were 974 (52.7%) male neonates in the DCC group and 1540 (54.5%) male neonates in the ICC group. Median (interquartile range) gestational age was 27 (25-28) weeks for the DCC group and 26 (25-27) weeks for the ICC group. Median (interquartile range) birth weight was 930 (760-1120) g and 870 (700-1060) g for DCC and ICC groups, respectively. Neonates who received DCC had significantly reduced odds of the composite outcome of severe neurological injury or mortality (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 0.80; 95% CI, 0.67-0.96), mortality (AOR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.59-0.93), and severe neurological injury (AOR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.64-0.99). The odds of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (AOR, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.84-1.19), retinopathy of prematurity stage 3 or higher (AOR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.71-1.25), necrotizing enterocolitis stage 2 or higher (AOR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.66-1.12), late-onset sepsis (AOR, 1.02; 95% CI, 0.85-1.22), and receipt of 2 or more blood transfusions (AOR, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.79-1.10) did not differ between the groups. Propensity score-matched analyses revealed lower odds of mortality (AOR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.65-0.95), late-onset sepsis (AOR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.69-0.95), and treatment for hypotension (AOR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.60-0.95) in the DCC group. In this study of extremely low-gestational-age neonates who received DCC or ICC, DCC was associated with reduced risk for the composite outcome of severe neurological injury or mortality.

BackgroundMany medical practitioners have adopted the practice of caesarean section for preterm infants in breech presentation based on term infant data. Some studies have highlighted deleterious effects on survival, such as intraventricular haemorrhage and periventricular leucomalacia, while others have reported no difference from the outcomes after vaginal delivery.ObjectiveTo compare outcomes of preterm infants of ≤32 weeks' gestational age who were in breech position at the time of birth according to mode of birth in Canadian neonatal intensive care units (NICUs).Settings29 Canadian NICUs.DesignNeonates admitted to participating NICUs in the Canadian Neonatal Network between 2003 and 2007 were included in this retrospective study. Infants who were in breech position at the time of birth were divided into two groups: vaginal birth (VB) and caesarean section (CS). Data on common neonatal outcomes were compared using univariate and multivariate logistic regression.Main outcome measuresNeonatal mortality and other neonatal morbidities.ResultsOf 3552 preterm infants in breech position at birth, 2937 (83%) were delivered by CS and 615 (17%) by VB. Multivariate regression analysis with adjustment for perinatal risk factors indicated that VB was associated with an increased risk of death (OR 1.7; 95% CI 1.3 to 2.3), chronic lung disease (OR 1.5; 95% CI 1.1 to 1.9) and severe retinopathy of prematurity (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.1 to 2.3).ConclusionVaginal birth for preterm infants in breech presentation is possibly associated with a higher risk of adverse neonatal outcomes compared with caesarean birth in Canadian NICUs. It is not clear whether adverse outcomes are due to the mode of delivery or whether breech birth is associated with other risk factors, an issue that can only be resolved by a randomised controlled trial.