Simple feeding pause could save preemie lives

NCT ID NCT05213806

Recruiting now Prevention Sponsor: IWK Health Centre Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This large international trial tests whether temporarily stopping milk feeds around the time of a blood transfusion can prevent necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a severe gut infection, in very premature babies (born before 30 weeks). Over 4,000 infants in Canada and the UK will be randomly assigned to either have feeds paused or continued during transfusions. The goal is to see which approach reduces the risk of NEC and death.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: withholding enteral feeds around blood transfusion
What this could lead to: If it works, this simple change in care could prevent a life-threatening gut disease in thousands of premature babies each year.
What could go wrong: This is a large trial, but the approach is already used in some hospitals, so the difference between groups may be small. Also, withholding feeds might have its own risks for fragile infants.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Premature Birth necrotizing enterocolitis prevention target

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

NECROTIZING ENTEROCOLITIS

Contacts and locations

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Locations

Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
RECRUITING

Barnsley, United Kingdom
Barts Health NHS Trust (3 Hospitals: Royal London Hospital, Whipps Cross Hospital, Newham General Hospital)
RECRUITING

London, UK, United Kingdom
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Luton & Dunstable University Hospital)
RECRUITING

Luton, UK, United Kingdom
Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (Glan Cwyd Hospital)
RECRUITING

Wales, United Kingdom
Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust (Birmingham Women's Hospital NICU)
RECRUITING

Birmingham, United Kingdom
Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Bradford Royal Infirmary)
RECRUITING

Bradford, United Kingdom
Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust (Stoke Mandeville Hospital)
RECRUITING

Aylesbury, United Kingdom
Calderdale & Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust (Calderdale Royal Hospital)
RECRUITING

Halifax, United Kingdom
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (Chelsea and Westminster Hospital)
RECRUITING

London, UK, United Kingdom
East Kent University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (William Harvey Hospital)
RECRUITING

Ashford, United Kingdom
East and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust - Colchester Hospital
RECRUITING

Colchester, United Kingdom
East and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust - Ipswich Hospital
RECRUITING

Ipswich, United Kingdom
Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Gloucestershire Royal Hospital)
RECRUITING

Gloucester, United Kingdom
IWK Health
RECRUITING

Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3K 6R8, Canada
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust (2 Hospitals: St Mary's Hospital & Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Hospital)
RECRUITING

London, UK, United Kingdom
Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Royal Preston Hospital)
RECRUITING

Preston, United Kingdom
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (Leeds General Infirmary & St James' University Hospital)
RECRUITING

Leeds, United Kingdom
Liverpool Women's Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (Liverpool Women's Hospital)
RECRUITING

Liverpool, United Kingdom
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (2 Hospitals: St Mary's Hospital - Oxford Road, North Manchester General)
RECRUITING

Manchester, United Kingdom
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (Wythenshawe)
RECRUITING

Manchester, United Kingdom
Medway Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (Oliver Fisher Neonatal Unit, Medway Maritime Hospital)
RECRUITING

Gillingham, United Kingdom
NHS Tayside (Ninewells Hospital)
RECRUITING

Dundee, United Kingdom
Norfolk & Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital)
RECRUITING

Norwich, England, United Kingdom

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
North Bristol NHS Trust (Southmead Hospital)
RECRUITING

Bristol, United Kingdom
North West Anglia NHS Trust (Peterborough City Hospital)
RECRUITING

Peterborough, United Kingdom
North West London NHS Trust (Northwick Park Hospital)
RECRUITING

London, United Kingdom
Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (2 Hospitals: City Hospital, Queen's Medical Centre)
RECRUITING

Nottingham, United Kingdom
Oxford University Hospitals NHS FT (John Radcliffe Hospital)
RECRUITING

Oxford, United Kingdom
Portsmouth University Hospitals NHS Trust (Queen Alexandra Hospital)
RECRUITING

Portsmouth, United Kingdom
Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust (New Cross Hospital)
RECRUITING

Wolverhampton, United Kingdom
The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Hillingdon Hospital)
RECRUITING

Hillingdon, UK, United Kingdom
The Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Royal Victoria Infirmary)
RECRUITING

Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
The Shrewsbury & Telford Hospitals NHS Trust (Royal Shrewsbury Hospital)
RECRUITING

Shrewsbury, United Kingdom
University Hospital Coventry & Warwickshire NHS Trust (University Hospital Coventry)
RECRUITING

Coventry, United Kingdom
University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust (Southampton General Hospital)
RECRUITING

Southampton, United Kingdom
University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Trust (2 Hospitals: Heartland's Hospital & Good Hope Hospital)
RECRUITING

Birmingham, United Kingdom
University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Trust (Royal Derby Hospital)
RECRUITING

Derby, United Kingdom
University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust (Leicester Royal Infirmary)
RECRUITING

Leicester, United Kingdom
Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust (Walsall Manor Hospital)
RECRUITING

Walsall, United Kingdom
West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust (Watford General Hospital)
RECRUITING

Watford, United Kingdom

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