TY - JOUR T1 - Fantoms JF - Archives of Disease in Childhood - Fetal and Neonatal Edition JO - Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed SP - F1 LP - F1 VL - 93 IS - 1 AU - Ben Stenson Y1 - 2008/01/01 UR - http://fn.bmj.com/content/93/1/F1.abstract N2 - The effect of the timing of cord clamping on blood volume in preterm infants is discussed in two papers a letter and an accompanying perspective in this issue. After at least 10 small randomised controlled trials the short-term haemodynamic effects of delayed cord clamping are established, but it has not become routine practice. The wording suggests that the delay is an intervention when of course it is the early clamping that is the intervention that requires justification. Concerns about the need for immediate resuscitation/stabilisation have excluded some of the more vulnerable infants from study. There is a paucity of data describing the most immature infants and a lack of long-term follow up to establish any permanent benefits. Reynolds calls for a large definitive trial which focuses on longer-term outcome. Delayed clamping would certainly have the potential to affect the outcomes of a lot of infants worldwide at virtually no cost if proven … ER -