RecruitingNAINTERVENTIONAL

Spectral Analysis of Bowel Sounds in Preterm Babies of Less Than 32 Weeks of Amenorrhea (WA) as Predictive Factor of Enterocolitis

This research is investigating if listening to and analysing the tummy sounds of very premature babies, born before 32 weeks, can help doctors predict a serious bowel condition called necrotising enterocolitis (NEC). NEC is a severe inflammation of the bowel that can affect premature infants and can be very dangerous. The study aims to find out if changes in a baby's bowel sounds could be an early warning sign. Researchers will simply record the babies' bowel sounds for 30 seconds, both before and after they've had a feed, every day while they are in hospital. These recordings will then be carefully analysed to see if there are particular sound patterns that link to babies who develop NEC. The hope is that this simple and inexpensive method could help identify babies at high risk sooner.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Phase

Sponsor

Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Amiens

Enrolment target

Start

06 Sep 2022

Estimated completion

01 Nov 2025

Bowel Sounds Spectral Analysis Necrotizing Enterocolitis Preterm Babies

What is this study about?

This study is about a serious health problem that can affect babies born very early, specifically those born before 32 weeks of pregnancy. This condition is called necrotising enterocolitis, or NEC for short. NEC is when parts of a baby’s bowel become inflamed and start to die off, which can be very serious and even life-threatening. Doctors are always looking for ways to predict which babies might develop NEC so they can get treatment sooner.

In this research, doctors are exploring a very simple and gentle method: listening to a baby's tummy sounds, just like you might hear your own tummy rumbling. The idea is that these sounds, which are made by the bowel as it digests food, might change if the bowel is becoming unwell. By recording these sounds and then looking closely at their patterns using a special computer analysis, the researchers hope to find specific 'sound signatures' that could act as an early warning sign for NEC.

This is important because if doctors can predict NEC earlier, they can start treatment sooner, which could lead to better outcomes for these fragile babies. It’s a non-invasive and easy method, meaning it won’t involve any painful procedures for the baby. The main aim is to find out if this simple approach could become a helpful tool for doctors caring for premature infants.

Key takeaways

This study looks at tummy sounds of very premature babies.
The aim is to find early signs of a serious bowel condition called NEC.
It involves gentle, non-painful recording of bowel sounds.
Recordings are analysed to find patterns linked to NEC.
The goal is to help doctors predict and treat NEC sooner.
There are no medications or changes to your baby's treatment.

Who may be eligible?

To be part of this study, a baby must have been born very prematurely, specifically before 32 weeks of pregnancy. This is often described as 'less than 32 weeks of amenorrhea' (WA), which is simply a medical way of saying how many weeks pregnant the mother was when the baby was born.

Babies who were born after 32 weeks of pregnancy would not be able to join this study. Also, if a baby has any existing problems with their digestive system or bowel that they were born with, they would not be suitable for this research. The study needs to focus on babies where any bowel issues might be due to prematurity and not other existing conditions.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Was your baby born before 32 weeks of pregnancy?
Does your baby have any digestive problems that they were born with?
Is your baby already receiving standard care for premature infants?
Is your baby currently in hospital?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If your baby is involved in this study, the main thing that will happen is that their tummy sounds will be recorded. This is a very simple and gentle procedure, just like listening with a stethoscope. A small device will be placed on your baby's tummy to record their bowel sounds for about 30 seconds. This will happen every day, both before and after your baby has had a feed. These recordings will continue every day until your baby is ready to leave the hospital. There are no medications or special treatments involved in this study – it's purely about watching and listening.

Potential risks and benefits

This study poses very low risk to your baby, as it only involves recording sounds, similar to using a stethoscope. There are no medications or invasive procedures. The potential benefit is that the findings could help doctors in the future identify babies at risk of NEC earlier, potentially leading to better care for very premature infants. You always have the right to withdraw your baby from the study at any time, for any reason, without it affecting their medical care.

Locations (1)

CHU Amiens
Verified postcode
Amiens, France· Recruiting

Common questions

What is NEC?

NEC stands for necrotising enterocolitis. It's a serious condition where a baby's bowel becomes inflamed and damaged, affecting mainly very premature babies.

How will my baby's tummy sounds be recorded?

A small, gentle device will be placed on your baby's tummy for about 30 seconds, similar to a doctor using a stethoscope. It's not painful or harmful.

How often will this happen?

The recordings will take place once a day, both before and after your baby's feed, every day until they go home from hospital.

Will this study affect my baby's treatment?

No, this study is observational. It won't change your baby's usual medical care or treatment plan.

What do you hope to learn from this study?

We hope to discover if changes in a baby's tummy sounds can act as an early sign that they might be developing NEC, helping doctors to provide earlier support.

How to find out more

André LOKOMBE-LEKE, DR

leke.andre@chu-amiens.fr 03 22 08 76 07 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.