Earlier weaning of preterm newborns from an incubator to a cot at 1400 g: A randomized controlled clinical trial

Abstract

IntroductionWeaning preterm newborns from an incubator to an open cot can induce a positive maternal attitude and decrease the burden in terms of healthcare costs. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and safety of weaning cots at a body weight of 1400 g. MethodsA randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted on 61 preterm newborns admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit, of which twenty-nine newborns were recruited in the study group, and thirty-two newborns in the control group in a 1:1 ratio, using a random block of four. The study group was shifted to a cot at a weight of 1400 g, and the control group was shifted at a weight of 1600 g as per routine practice. Outcomes included weight gain, length of stay (LOS), and temperature control. ResultsThere were no significant differences between the two groups concerning corrected gestational age at transfer and recorded body temperature at any time point (p = 0.494, 0.713, and 0.133, respectively). No cases of weaning failure were observed in any of the newborns in the two groups. ConclusionThe present study indicated that preterm infants could be weaned safely from incubators to open cots at a weight as low as 1400 g. Further studies are warranted to confirm our findings in different settings. This project was funded by the Grant Management Department, King Fahad Medical City. Registration numberClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04351425.