Effects of a small-baby protocol on early and long-term outcomes in extremely preterm infants: A quality improvement study

Background: Extremely preterm (EPT) infants (≤28 weeks) remain at risk for poor outcomes. Small baby protocols (SBPs) may improve outcomes, but optimal strategies are unknown. Methods: This study evaluated whether EPT infants managed using an SBP would have better outcomes compared to a historical control (HC) group. The study compared a HC group of EPT infants 23 0/7 weeks to 28 0/7 weeks GA (2006–2007), to a similar SBP group (2007–2008). Survivors were followed until 13 years of life. The SBP emphasized antenatal steroids, delayed cord clamping, respiratory and hemodynamic minimalism, prophylactic indomethacin, early empiric caffeine, and control of sound and light. Results: There were 35 HC subjects and 35 SBP subjects. The SBP group had less severe IVH-PVH (9 % vs. 40 %, risk ratio 0.7, 95 % CI 0.5–0.9, P = 0.002) mortality (17 % vs. 46 %, risk ratio 0.6, 95 % CI 0.5–0.9, P = 0.004), and acute pulmonary hemorrhage (6 % vs. 23 %, risk ratio 0.8, 95 % CI 0.7–1.0, P = 0.04). Compliance with the SBP protocol was excellent. For the SBP group in the first 72 h, no subjects received inotropes, hydrocortisone, or sodium bicarbonate. Intubation, mechanical ventilation, fluid boluses, sedation, red blood cell transfusions, and insulin use decreased. At 10–13 years, more SBP subjects had survived without NDI (51 % vs. 23 %, risk ratio = 1.6, 95 % CI = 1.1–2.4, P = 0.01). More SBP subjects also survived without NDI and with a Vineland Adaptive Behavior Composite score > 85 (44 % vs. 11 %, risk ratio = 2.0, 95 % CI = 1.2–3.2, P ≤0.001). The SBP group had less visual impairment. Conclusion: An SBP was associated with improved outcomes, including normal neurologic survival after 10 years.