Umbilical cord milking stabilizes cerebral oxygenation and perfusion in infants born before 29 weeks of gestation.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of umbilical cord milking at birth on cerebral perfusion and systemic perfusion in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants.

STUDY DESIGN: Cerebral tissue oxygenation index and cerebral fractional tissue oxygen extraction were monitored in 50 stable VLBW infants (gestational age <29 weeks, birth weight <1250 g), with 26 allocated to the milked group and 24 to the control group. We used near-infrared spectroscopy 3-6, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, and 72 hours after birth. Left ventricular end-diastolic dimension, left ventricular ejection fraction, left ventricle (LV) Tei index (measurement of left ventricular systolic and diastolic function), left ventricular cardiac output, and superior vena cava flow were measured concurrently using echocardiography.

RESULTS: There were no significant differences in gestational age and birth weight between the 2 groups. Hematocrit, left ventricular end-diastolic dimension, left ventricular cardiac output, and superior vena cava flow were higher in the milked group than in the control group, with improvement in the LV Tei index despite the absence of left ventricular ejection fraction changes within 24 hours after birth. Tissue oxygenation index increased and cerebral fractional tissue oxygen extraction decreased in the milked group within 24 hours after birth.

CONCLUSION: Umbilical cord milking stabilized cerebral oxygenation and perfusion in VLBW infants by improving LV diastolic function by increasing LV preload.