TRiP Study

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Minimising the adverse physiological effects of transportation on the premature infant

• IRAS ID

  236562

• Contact name

  Don Sharkey

• Contact email

  don.sharkey@nottingham.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  University of Nottingham

• Duration of Study in the UK

  1 years, 11 months, 31 days

• Research summary

  There are 50,000 premature births in the UK and this number is increasing each year. Although improvements in neonatal care has led to better survival rates especially at the extremes of gestational age. This is not without significant risk of respiratory disease, cerebral palsy, learning difficulties and behavioural problems. Overall, there is a significant impact on both quality of life of the infant and cost to society to manage these long term conditions.

  In 2003, infant services were reorganised with the aim to improve provision of quality care and infant outcomes. Although this change has led to an increase in survival, the level of neuro-disability has remained the same. Furthermore, this has led to an increased number of infants requiring transport to hospitals with higher service provision. Transporting preterm infants, although essential for survival, increases the risk of bleeding into the brain and long term neuro-disability. Given the significant lifelong impact on premature infants, their families and society, current practice needs to be studied to reduce the risk associated with transportation.

  During transportation, infants are exposed to both excessive vibration and noise above that deemed uncomfortable for adults. Studies have shown excessive vibration is associated with adverse health effects in adults and causes both brain injury and behavioural changes in animal models. This injury to the brain could be an important factor in the development of brain damage in transported preterm infants.

  This study aims to:
  - quantify the level of vibration and noise experienced by preterm infants during ambulance transfer and any physiological (for example heart rate and oxygen levels) or biochemical changes
  - examine any evidence of brain injury through measurement of bodily fluid markers and brain scans
  - Study a new incubator system to make ambulance transfer safer
  - monitor vibration and sound levels using a prototype measuring device

• REC name

  East Midlands - Derby Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  18/EM/0230

• Date of REC Opinion

  4 Sep 2018

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion