Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Making the Argument for Intact Cord Resuscitation : A Case Report and Discussion

Mercer, Judith ; Erickson-Owens, Debra ; Rabe, Heike ; Jefferson, Karen and Andersson, Ola LU orcid (2022) In Children 9(4).
Abstract

We use a case of intact cord resuscitation to argue for the beneficial effects of an enhanced blood volume from placental transfusion for newborns needing resuscitation. We propose that intact cord resuscitation supports the process of physiologic neonatal transition, especially for many of those newborns appearing moribund. Transfer of the residual blood in the placenta provides the neonate with valuable access to otherwise lost blood volume while changing from placental respiration to breathing air. Our hypothesis is that the enhanced blood flow from placental transfusion initiates mechanical and chemical forces that directly, and indirectly through the vagus nerve, cause vasodilatation in the lung. Pulmonary vascular resistance is... (More)

We use a case of intact cord resuscitation to argue for the beneficial effects of an enhanced blood volume from placental transfusion for newborns needing resuscitation. We propose that intact cord resuscitation supports the process of physiologic neonatal transition, especially for many of those newborns appearing moribund. Transfer of the residual blood in the placenta provides the neonate with valuable access to otherwise lost blood volume while changing from placental respiration to breathing air. Our hypothesis is that the enhanced blood flow from placental transfusion initiates mechanical and chemical forces that directly, and indirectly through the vagus nerve, cause vasodilatation in the lung. Pulmonary vascular resistance is thereby reduced and facilitates the important increased entry of blood into the alveolar capillaries before breathing commences. In the presented case, enhanced perfusion to the brain by way of an intact cord likely led to regained consciousness, initiation of breathing, and return of tone and reflexes minutes after birth. Paramount to our hypothesis is the importance of keeping the umbilical cord circulation intact during the first several minutes of life to accommodate physiologic neonatal transition for all newborns and especially for those most compromised infants.

(Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Children
volume
9
issue
4
publisher
MDPI AG
external identifiers
  • pmid:35455560
  • scopus:85128755490
ISSN
2227-9067
DOI
10.3390/children9040517
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
efbd36f7-cbae-4662-9348-d249befcf2de
date added to LUP
2022-05-09 12:38:53
date last changed
2024-06-13 12:43:48
@article{efbd36f7-cbae-4662-9348-d249befcf2de,
  abstract     = {{<p>We use a case of intact cord resuscitation to argue for the beneficial effects of an enhanced blood volume from placental transfusion for newborns needing resuscitation. We propose that intact cord resuscitation supports the process of physiologic neonatal transition, especially for many of those newborns appearing moribund. Transfer of the residual blood in the placenta provides the neonate with valuable access to otherwise lost blood volume while changing from placental respiration to breathing air. Our hypothesis is that the enhanced blood flow from placental transfusion initiates mechanical and chemical forces that directly, and indirectly through the vagus nerve, cause vasodilatation in the lung. Pulmonary vascular resistance is thereby reduced and facilitates the important increased entry of blood into the alveolar capillaries before breathing commences. In the presented case, enhanced perfusion to the brain by way of an intact cord likely led to regained consciousness, initiation of breathing, and return of tone and reflexes minutes after birth. Paramount to our hypothesis is the importance of keeping the umbilical cord circulation intact during the first several minutes of life to accommodate physiologic neonatal transition for all newborns and especially for those most compromised infants.</p>}},
  author       = {{Mercer, Judith and Erickson-Owens, Debra and Rabe, Heike and Jefferson, Karen and Andersson, Ola}},
  issn         = {{2227-9067}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{04}},
  number       = {{4}},
  publisher    = {{MDPI AG}},
  series       = {{Children}},
  title        = {{Making the Argument for Intact Cord Resuscitation : A Case Report and Discussion}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/children9040517}},
  doi          = {{10.3390/children9040517}},
  volume       = {{9}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}