What do systematic reviews say?

Early inhaled steroids (< 2 weeks) vs placebo (among all randomised)

Early inhaled steroids (< 2 weeks) showed no clear difference in CLD at 36 weeks' PMA oxygen dependency at 36 weeks' PMA compared with placebo (among all randomised) (moderate certainty).

• Early administration of inhaled corticosteroids for preventing chronic lung disease in very low birth weight preterm… 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.97 [0.62, 1.52]
  5 studies · 429 participants
  Moderate

Early inhaled steroids (< 2 weeks) vs placebo (among all randomised)

Early inhaled steroids (< 2 weeks) probably leads to lower death by, or CLD at, 36 weeks' PMA Death or oxygen dependency at 36… compared with placebo (among all randomised) (moderate certainty).

• Early administration of inhaled corticosteroids for preventing chronic lung disease in very low birth weight preterm… 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.86 [0.75, 0.99]
  6 studies · 1285 participants
  Moderate

Early inhaled steroids (< 2 weeks) vs placebo (among survivors)

Early inhaled steroid (< 2 weeks) probably leads to lower CLD at 36 weeks' PMA compared with placebo (among survivors) (moderate certainty).

• Early administration of inhaled corticosteroids for preventing chronic lung disease in very low birth weight preterm… 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.76 [0.63, 0.93]
  6 studies · 1088 participants
  Moderate

Cerclage vs no cerclage

Cerclage showed no clear difference in all perinatal losses compared with no cerclage (moderate certainty).

• Cervical stitch (cerclage) for preventing preterm birth in singleton pregnancy 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.82 [0.65, 1.04]
  10 studies · 2927 participants
  Moderate

Cerclage vs no cerclage

Cerclage showed no clear difference in serious neonatal morbidity compared with no cerclage (low certainty).

• Cervical stitch (cerclage) for preventing preterm birth in singleton pregnancy 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.8 [0.55, 1.18]
  6 studies · 883 participants
  Low

Cerclage vs no cerclage

Cerclage showed no clear difference in baby discharged home healthy compared with no cerclage (moderate certainty).

• Cervical stitch (cerclage) for preventing preterm birth in singleton pregnancy 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.02 [0.97, 1.06]
  4 studies · 657 participants
  Moderate

Cerclage vs no cerclage

Cerclage showed no clear difference in neonatal deaths before discharge compared with no cerclage (low certainty).

• Cervical stitch (cerclage) for preventing preterm birth in singleton pregnancy 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.85 [0.53, 1.39]
  6 studies · 1714 participants
  Low

Summary of findings table for oral immunoglobulin vs control

Summary of findings table for oral immunoglobulin showed no clear difference in definite necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) during study period compared with control (low certainty).

• Oral immunoglobulin for preventing necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm and low birth weight neonates 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.84 [0.57, 1.25]
  3 studies · 1840 participants
  Low

Summary of findings table for oral immunoglobulin vs control

It is very uncertain whether summary of findings table for oral immunoglobulin changes definite necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) during study period ‐ IgA/IgG compared with control (very low certainty).

• Oral immunoglobulin for preventing necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm and low birth weight neonates 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.08 [0, 1.39]
  1 study · 179 participants
  Very low

Summary of findings table for oral immunoglobulin vs control

Summary of findings table for oral immunoglobulin showed no clear difference in definite necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) during study period ‐ IgG compared with control (low certainty).

• Oral immunoglobulin for preventing necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm and low birth weight neonates 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.95 [0.63, 1.42]
  2 studies · 1661 participants
  Low

Summary of findings table for oral immunoglobulin vs control

It is very uncertain whether summary of findings table for oral immunoglobulin changes definite NEC after study period compared with control (very low certainty).

• Oral immunoglobulin for preventing necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm and low birth weight neonates 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.3 [0.47, 3.6]
  2 studies · 1661 participants
  Very low

Summary of findings table for oral immunoglobulin vs control

It is very uncertain whether summary of findings table for oral immunoglobulin changes NEC‐related surgery during study period compared with control (very low certainty).

• Oral immunoglobulin for preventing necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm and low birth weight neonates 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.21 [0.02, 1.75]
  2 studies · 311 participants
  Very low

Summary of findings table for oral immunoglobulin vs control

It is very uncertain whether summary of findings table for oral immunoglobulin changes NEC‐related deaths during study period compared with control (very low certainty).

• Oral immunoglobulin for preventing necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm and low birth weight neonates 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.1 [0.47, 2.59]
  3 studies · 1840 participants
  Very low

Cycled light (CL) vs irregular dimmed light or near darkness (ND)

• Cycled light in the intensive care unit for preterm and low birth weight infants 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 40 participants
  Low

Cycled light (CL) vs irregular dimmed light or near darkness (ND)

• Cycled light in the intensive care unit for preterm and low birth weight infants 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  2 studies · 77 participants
  Low

Oral betamimetic vs placebo

Oral betamimetic may leads to lower preterm labour compared with placebo (low certainty).

• Prophylactic oral betamimetics for reducing preterm birth in women with a twin pregnancy 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.37 [0.17, 0.78]
  2 studies · 194 participants
  Low

Ambroxol vs corticosteroid (betamethasone)

Ambroxol showed no clear difference in incidence of RDS frequency in newborns compared with corticosteroid (betamethasone) (moderate certainty).

• Ambroxol for women at risk of preterm birth for preventing neonatal respiratory distress syndrome 2014 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.79 [0.59, 1.07]
  7 studies · 758 participants
  Moderate

Ambroxol vs corticosteroid (betamethasone)

Ambroxol showed no clear difference in perinatal mortality frequency of deaths of newborns compared with corticosteroid (betamethasone) (moderate certainty).

• Ambroxol for women at risk of preterm birth for preventing neonatal respiratory distress syndrome 2014 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.51 [0.23, 1.12]
  6 studies · 657 participants
  Moderate

Ambroxol vs corticosteroid (betamethasone)

It is very uncertain whether ambroxol changes adverse effects in pregnant women frequency in pregnant women compared with corticosteroid (betamethasone) (very low certainty).

• Ambroxol for women at risk of preterm birth for preventing neonatal respiratory distress syndrome 2014 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 3.45 [0.34, 35.51]
  3 studies · 305 participants
  Very low

Ambroxol vs placebo or no treatment

Ambroxol showed no clear difference in incidence of RDS frequency in newborns compared with placebo or no treatment (low certainty).

• Ambroxol for women at risk of preterm birth for preventing neonatal respiratory distress syndrome 2014 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.74 [0.46, 1.2]
  2 studies · 204 participants
  Low