iSEARCH - Improving outcomes for women and babies by increasing placental blood flow to reduce fetal

Back to all Current clinical trials

iSEARCH - Improving outcomes for women and babies by increasing placental blood flow to reduce fetal distress during labour

Fetal distress in labour

iSEARCH is a multicentre randomised controlled trial aiming to improve outcomes for women and babies. In Australia, almost 1 in 4 caesarean sections are performed for suspected fetal distress, which occurs when the placenta is unable to supply sufficient oxygen and nutrients in labour. The only therapeutic options are emergency caesarean section or instrumental vaginal birth – both of which can have serious consequences. Sildenafil Citrate (SC) dilates blood vessels, thus improving blood flow to baby. iSEARCH evaluates the potential of SC to improve outcomes for women and babies by reducing fetal distress during labour.

A preliminary trial of 300 women at Mater Mothers Hospital published as a Report of Major Impact in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology found that taking SC during labour reduced the need for caesarean section or instrumental birth by 50%.

Category
Genesis Research Team (Pregnancy and Neonatal Outcomes)
Trial status
Recruiting
Trial phase
Phase 3 Drug Trial
Late stage studies conducted to confirm efficacy and safety of investigational therapies in large patient populations prior to introduction to clinical practice.
Registry listing
ACTRN12621000231842 - Australia New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry

Trial contact details

Contact person
iSEARCH team
Email
isearch@mater.org.au

What you need to know

Who can take part?

Women planning a vaginal birth from 37 weeks gestation in hospital
Singleton or DCDA twin pregnancy
Women 18 years and older
Women willing and able to comply with study requirements

Exclusions:

Women who have had 2 or more caesareans
Women with severe kidney or liver dysfunction
Triplet or higher order multiple births
Contraindication to SC
Women who are taking nitrate drug therapy or are planning to utilise short-acting nitrate-containgin medication in labour (this is very rare)

What is involved for you?

The process for women who choose to participate in iSEARCH is as follows:

Read and sign a consent form, along with discussion with a Research Midwife or Doctor
Receive a blood test antenatally (we try to coincide this with other pathology)
When women present in established labour or if being induced, when waters are broken:
- women receive a tablet in labour every 8 hours, with a maximum of 3 tablets
  - Half the women receive SC
  - Half the women receive a placebo
Once baby is born some blood is collected from the umbilical cord (this doesn’t hurt baby or mother)
Brief phone interview every 6 months for 3 years. The phone call at 2 years will take around 20 minutes, and includes a questionnaire regarding the child’s developmental milstones.