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Address correspondence:
Robert Lemke, MD
Stollery Childrens Hospital
3A3 Walter C Mackenzie HSC
8440 112 St NW
Edmonton, Alberta
T6G 2B7
Email: rplemke@shaw.ca
Author Disclosure: All three authors have applied for a patent on the device described in
this paper in multiple jurisdictions.
ABSTRACT
Objective: As an initial proof of concept, to determine whether a prototype umbilical cord clamp containing a
Doppler ultrasound probe could quickly detect and accurately measure the heart rate of term newborns 5 min after
birth.
Methods: Clinically stable, spontaneously breathing newborns in room air, 37 weeks gestation, had the prototype
clamp applied to the base of their umbilical cord. We noted the time needed to detect a signal and then monitored
the audible Doppler pulsations for approximately 1 minute while we simultaneously palpated the femoral pulse to
confirm a 1:1 correlation.
Results: A total of 16 term infants (9 female, GA 392 weeks, BW 3265425 grams, one minute Apgar 82, five
minute Apgar 91) had the cord clamp applied. In all cases a Doppler signal was detected immediately after contact
with the skin, and remained strong and correlated 1:1 with the palpated pulse for at least one minute. Movement and
crying resulted in some noise but the Doppler heart rate signal was unaffected.
Conclusion: Under controlled conditions, a prototype umbilical cord clamp containing a Doppler ultrasound probe
was able to detect and monitor the heart rate of 16 healthy newborns after birth. The technique has potential
applications in guiding newborn resuscitation and requires further study.
Key words: newborn, Doppler, resuscitation, newborn heart rate monitor, delivery room
INTRODUCTION
The transition from fetus to an air-breathing
infant is a complex physiological process.1
Although most babies are successful in this
regard, a significant number require some
emergent assistance during this transition,24
and resuscitation interventions are not
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