Frequency and related clinical features of polycythemia in full term newborns in whom cord clamping was delayed

Results: total 250 neonates were included in this study,138(55.2%) were male and 112(44.8%) were females,frequency of polycythemia in neonates with delayed cord clamping was recorded in 21(8.4%) while 229(91.6%) had no polycythemia,out of polycythemic newborns,6(28.57%) with jitteriness,10(47.62%) with plethora,13(61.90%) had hypoglycemia,2(9.52%) had cyanosis.conclusion: the results of the study reveal that frequency of polycythemia and related clinical features of the morbidity in full term newborns in whom cord clamping was delayed at tertiary care hospital are higher.aim: to determine the frequency and related clinical features of polycythemia in full term newborns in whom cord clamping was delayed at tertiary care hospital.setting: pediatric medicine and gynecology department of lahore general hospital from january 2012 to june 2012.methods: full term newborns meeting the inclusion criteria were admitted through emergency. exclusion criteria were strictly followed to control confounding variables. the purpose,procedure,risks and benefits were explained to parents of children and informed consent was taken. selected full term newborns (cord clamping done at 3 minutes) as mentioned in operational definition was kept under observation for relevant clinical features like jitteriness,hypoglycemia,plethora and cyanosis during hospital stay till polycythemia was diagnosed and polycythemic newborns were managed according to protocol of our unit to avoid any complications. we drew blood samples and sent it to laboratory for hematocrit level at 24 hours after birth to assess polycythemia as mentioned in operational definition. © 2014 pakistan journal of medical and health sciences. all rights reserved.