Early Caffeine in Preterm Neonates

This is a clinical trial which will investigate whether administration of caffeine, a respiratory stimulant, to preterm babies soon after birth can prevent the need for a breathing tube, or intubation. Many preterm babies who require intubation are intubated soon after birth, often within the first few hours. If caffeine is given early enough and is sufficient to stimulate effective breathing, perhaps these babies may not require intubation. Additionally, caffeine may improve blood flow in preterm babies when given soon after birth. Approximately half of babies in this study will receive caffeine within two hours after birth, and half will receive caffeine 12 hours after birth. The hypothesis is that preterm babies who receive caffeine within 2 hours after birth will have a lower incidence of intubation than preterm babies who receive caffeine 12 hours after birth. The main secondary hypothesis is that caffeine given soon after birth will enhance blood flow in preterm babies.