EFFECT OF EARLY CORD CLAMPING VS DELAYED CORD CLAMPING ON HEMATOCRIT IN FULL TERM NEONATES

Abstract

Objective: To compare the mean hematocrit of early cord clamping vs delayed cord clamping in full term neonate.

Study Design: Randomized Controlled Trail.

Study Setting: Department of Pediatrics, Punjab Rangers Teaching Hospital,  Lahore.

Study Duration: Six Months (Jan to June 2025)

Methodology: A total of 100 full-term neonates were randomly allocated into two groups of 50 each using the lottery method. The ECC group underwent cord clamping within 15 seconds of delivery, while the DCC group had clamping delayed for 60-180 seconds. The primary outcome measured was hematocrit level, which was assessed via venous sampling on the fourth day of life. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22, with an independent samples t-test used for group comparisons.

Results: Evidence consistently shows that DCC significantly increases neonatal hemoglobin (16–19 g/dl vs. 14–17 g/dl in ECC), hematocrit, and ferritin concentrations, and reduces the prevalence of early iron deficiency anemia. Infants subjected to DCC demonstrated more stable heart rates and higher oxygen saturation in the early transitional period, with no major adverse maternal or neonatal events. Although some studies have reported an increased risk of neonatal jaundice requiring phototherapy in the delayed cord clamping group, this association has not been consistently observed across all studies.

Conclusion: Delayed cord clamping improves neonatal hematological and physiological outcomes and should be recommended as a standard practice, particularly in low-resource settings where the burden of iron deficiency anemia is high.