Welcome Cork University Hospital, Ireland for starting recruiting for HiLo-Trial

Welcome Cork University Hospital, Ireland, to the HiLo-Trial!

We are thrilled to announce that Cork University Hospital in Cork, Ireland, has officially begun recruiting participants for the HiLo-Trial! This marks an exciting milestone in our mission to refine the care provided to preterm infants and advance our understanding of optimal oxygen use during neonatal resuscitation.

Oxygen plays a crucial role in the care of preterm infants, and its use has been a cornerstone of neonatal care for over 80 years. Despite its importance, there remains significant uncertainty about the safest levels of oxygen, particularly at birth. Preterm birth, defined as birth before 37 weeks' gestation, affects approximately 8% of pregnancies in Canada and is associated with numerous health challenges. For infants born before 29 weeks’ gestation, the situation is even more delicate due to underdeveloped lungs and the increased risk of complications like breathing difficulties.

When preterm infants require resuscitation, the choice of oxygen concentration is critical. Both excessive and insufficient oxygen can lead to serious outcomes, including brain injury. This is where the HiLo-Trial comes into play. Our study aims to compare the effects of resuscitating preterm infants with either a low oxygen concentration (30%) or a high oxygen concentration (60%). These concentrations were chosen based on the best available knowledge at the trial's inception.

The HiLo-Trial utilizes a cluster cross-over design. Each participating site recruits a specified number of infants for one arm of the trial. Once the target number is achieved, the site will switch to recruit for the other arm. Recruitment will continue until both targets (equal numbers for each arm) are met, after which the site will close to further recruitment.

We extend a warm welcome to Cork University Hospital as they embark on this important journey with us. Your participation is vital to the success of the HiLo-Trial, and we deeply appreciate the commitment of your team.

A heartfelt thank you goes out to everyone involved in making this trial a reality, including the dedicated healthcare professionals, researchers, and, most importantly, the parents who have consented for their babies to be part of this groundbreaking study. Your contributions are invaluable as we work together to improve neonatal care and outcomes for preterm infants.

Welcome aboard, Cork University Hospital, and thank you for joining the HiLo-Trial team!