Clinical Trial: Monitoring Necrotizing Enterocolitis in Premature Infants

Study Status: Completed
Recruit Status: Unknown status
Study Type: Observational

Official Title: Monitoring Necrotizing Enterocolitis in Premature Infants Using Depth-Resolved Broad Spectrum NIRS

Brief Summary: The investigators are studying a disease called "necrotizing enterocolitis" (or "NEC" for short), which affects premature infants. It is the most common surgical emergency involving neonates admitted to Newborn Intensive Care Units. Currently, clinicians are unable to identify which infants will go on to develop NEC before they become ill. Clinical signs of illness occur relatively late in the course of the condition, making NEC more difficult to treat. The investigators will test a new probe that uses safe levels of visible and infrared light, with and without ultrasound imaging, to see if the investigators can identify infants before they get sick using a simple, noninvasive test, This test will be repeated through at least one feeding (which stresses the gut) each day. If successful, the health benefit will be large, as it is estimated that treating NEC alone (not including treating its later complications) adds $650 million to the annual health bill.

Detailed Summary:

In this 5-year study, we extend our prior feasibility study to test the hypothesis that very-low-birth-weight neonates (VLBW) who develop necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) can be reliably detected early in the process using broadband optical spectroscopy sensitive to changes in perfusion of the gut. Such perfusion changes result in regional tissue hypoxemia, which we have demonstrated to be detectable by combined broadband visible/near-infrared tissue oximetry, a real-time method that can assess the adequacy of deep tissue oxygenation. Initially this will be an optical-only device; then combining it with ultrasound will be studied in years 2-5, first on the benchtop, and then in the intensive care unit.

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is the most common life-threatening surgical emergency encountered in the neonatal intensive care unit [ ]. NEC is a multi-factorial (infectious, inflammatory, and ischemic) disease of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract of newborns and neonates. The end result is mucosal injury and/or transmural necrosis of the intestine. Currently, there is no test to diagnose NEC in the early stages of the disease, before the later and ominous clinical signs appear. The mortality of NEC ranges from 10% to 50%, approaching 100% for neonates with severe forms of the disease characterized by full-thickness necrosis of the intestine, followed by rupture and sepsis.

Ninety percent of NEC cases occur in infants born before 36 weeks' gestational age, occurring in up to 10% of all very-low-birth-weight (VLBW, <1500g) neonates [ ]. A diagnosis of NEC increases the NICU length of stay by 22−60 days, and increases the total hospital charges by $76,000−$186,000 per case [ ]. Finally, Neonates recovering from NEC often incur additional serious complications (malnutrition, liver dysfunction). NEC requiring surg
Sponsor: Spectros Corporation

Current Primary Outcome: Diagnosis of NEC by Optical vs. Standard Clinical [ Time Frame: 2 weeks ]

Diagnosis of NEC by Optical vs. Standard Clinical will be compared, to see if optical facilitates an early diagnosis


Original Primary Outcome: Same as current

Current Secondary Outcome: Time frame of ischemia associated with NEC: Early vs Late [ Time Frame: 2 weeks ]

Ischemia may be an early or late feature of NEC. If early, it can serve for early diagnosis. If late, it will help with late diagnosis, but not be useful early in the course of disease. There is no clear evidence as to which of these is true.


Original Secondary Outcome: Same as current

Information By: Spectros Corporation

Dates:
Date Received: January 30, 2011
Date Started: March 2011
Date Completion:
Last Updated: January 31, 2011
Last Verified: January 2011