The POPS trial (PICC Out Parenteral nutrition Stopped): In preterm infants less than 1500grams, does stopping intravenous nutrition and removing Peripherally Inserted Central Venous Catheters (PICC lines) at 100mls/kg/day of oral feeds compared to 140mls/kg/day (full oral feeds) significantly increase time to regain birth-weight?

In preterm infants less than 1500g, does PICC line removal and parenteral nutrition discontinuation at 100mls/kg/day enteral feed volume compared to 140mls/kg/day (full enteral feeds) significantly increase mean time to regain birth-weight: A randomised controlled trial

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

ISRCTN

Registry ID

ISRCTN72413202

Enrollment

140

Registered

2013-06-20

Start date

2013-06-16

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2020-11-16

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Very Low Birth Weight / extremely premature infants: Nutrition and Late onset sepsis (LOS), CVC/PICC complications Pregnancy and Childbirth Extremely low birth weight

Interventions

Removal of PICC line at 100mls/kg/day of enteral feeds compared to 140mls/kg/day (full feeds). Participants will be followed until their discharge from hospital.

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: 1. Very Low Birth Weight Infants (less than 1500g) who are initiating enteral feeding 2. Peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) in situ

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: 1. Infants diagnosed with a major congenital or chromosomal abnormality which will affect growth parameters and time to full feeds 2. Death/transfer out of unit likely before primary outcome (i.e return to birth-weight) 3. Enteral feed volume of 100mls/kg/day achieved prior to randomisation

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
To compare the two allocation groups with respect to the time taken to regain birth weight. This will be calculated in days from birth. Infants are weighed daily.	—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
To compare the two allocation groups with respect to the following: 1. Episodes of CVC associated blood stream infection/Late onset infection (>72hours) 2. PICC complications (thrombosis, infiltration, leaking, thrombophlebitis, superficial skin infection at site) 3. Hypoglycaemia ? Point Of Care Testing (POCT) glucose =2.6mmol/L within 24 hours of PICC line removal 4. Peripheral IV inserted within 24hours of PICC removal for the purpose of IV hydration 5. Discharge weight (kg), occipital-frontal circumference (OFC) (cm) and length (cm) and centiles (WHO centile chart) 6. The mean difference in calorie, carbohydrate, lipid and protein intake between between removal of PICC line and 140mls/kg/day 7. Mean duration PICC line in situ, calculated in hours	—

Measure

Time frame

To compare the two allocation groups with respect to the following: 1. Episodes of CVC associated blood stream infection/Late onset infection (>72hours) 2. PICC complications (thrombosis, infiltration, leaking, thrombophlebitis, superficial skin infection at site) 3. Hypoglycaemia ? Point Of Care Testing (POCT) glucose =2.6mmol/L within 24 hours of PICC line removal 4. Peripheral IV inserted within 24hours of PICC removal for the purpose of IV hydration 5. Discharge weight (kg), occipital-frontal circumference (OFC) (cm) and length (cm) and centiles (WHO centile chart) 6. The mean difference in calorie, carbohydrate, lipid and protein intake between between removal of PICC line and 140mls/kg/day 7. Mean duration PICC line in situ, calculated in hours

—

Countries

Ireland

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ISRCTN (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026