Weaning Preterm Infants at 1500 Grams From Incubators

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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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.

Detailed Description
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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).

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

Conditions
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Preterm Infants

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Weaning Preterm Infants from an incubator


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: stable preterm infants weighing ≤1500 g fully enterally fed, and without supplemental oxygen steroid or antibiotics treatment at the postnatal age of ≥ 2 weeks were included infants < than 2 weeks of age Exclusion Criteria: ventilated infants or those requiring oxygen supplementation parenteral nutrition antibiotic treatment or steroids treatment were excluded

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 14 Days

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Factorial Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: weaning at 1500 g<br>weaning infants from an incubator at 1500 g | Behavioral: Weaning Preterm Infants from an incubator<br>* Eligible infants are to be randomized by computer generated random numbers to either the study group weaned at 1500 gr. or the control group weaned at 1600 gr. Both groups were weaned to a warming bassinet.<br>|
| Active Comparator: weaning at 1600 g<br>weaning infants from an incubator at 1600 g | Behavioral: Weaning Preterm Infants from an incubator<br>* Eligible infants are to be randomized by computer generated random numbers to either the study group weaned at 1500 gr. or the control group weaned at 1600 gr. Both groups were weaned to a warming bassinet.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| successful and safe weaning from convective incubator of stable preterm infants to a warming bassinet at body weight of 1500g compared with 1600g. |  | Ten days | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Resting energy expenditure REE (kcal/kg/24h) measurements |  | Fourty eight hours | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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energy expenditure, hypothermia, body temperature, weaning, preterm infants