Colm O’Donnell

Consultant Neonatologist, Professor

Contact

Consultant Neonatologist, National Maternity Hospital (NMH) & Children’s Health Ireland at Crumlin; Professor, UCD; Director of Clinical Research, NCRC

Professor O’Donnell graduated in Medicine at UCD in 1996 and worked in General Medicine and in Paediatrics in Ireland until 2001. Colm then moved to Melbourne, Australia where he completed a Clinical Fellowship in Neonatology, a PhD at the University of Melbourne and worked as a Consultant Neonatologist at the Royal Women’s Hospital and NETS Victoria. He returned to Ireland to take up a position as a Consultant Neonatologist at the NMH in 2006. He is a clinical researcher with specific interest in neonatal resuscitation, delivery room care of preterm infants, respiratory support of preterm infants, randomised clinical trials of intensive care interventions, evidence-based clinical practice and systematic reviews of the medical literature.

Colm O’Donnell

Consultant Neonatologist, Professor

Contact

codonnell@nmh.ie

Prophylactic Oropharyngeal surfactant for Preterm infants: A Randomised Trial (the POPART)

We designed this international multicentre randomised trial to determine whether giving surfactant into the oropharynx of premature babies (born before 29 weeks of gestation) immediately after birth reduces their rate of intubation for respiratory failure in the first 5 days of life. This study will enrol 250 babies at centres across 8 European countries

Estimating the depth of endotracheal tube (ETT) insertion in newborns using weight or suprasternal palpation: the NEDI3 trial

This single centre randomised trial will determine whether estimating the appropriate depth of ETT insertion using suprasternal palpation of the tip, rather than a weight-based formula, in babies who are intubated in the NICU increases the proportion of correctly positioned ETT tips on post-intubation chest X-rays. We will recruit 116 infants at the NMH.

Study of Heart Rate Evaluation using ECG in newly-born Preterm infants: the SHEEP2 study

A randomised study of heart rate (HR) evaluation among 100 premature babies born at the NMH to compare the speed, reliability and handling required in determining HR using ECG and pulse oximetry in the delivery room.

The list of publications below is automatically derived from MEDLINE/PubMed. As a result, there may be incorrect or missing publications.

Murphy MC, McCarthy LK, O'Donnell CPF, 2022 Apr 1, Research in the Delivery Room: Can You Tell Me It's Evolution? Neoreviews, DOI: 10.1542/neo.23-4-e229

Dunne EA, Pellegrino N, Murphy MC, McDonald K, Dowling L, O'Donnell CPF, McCarthy LK, 2022 Jan 28, Thermal care for very preterm infants in the delivery room in the era of delayed cord clamping. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed, DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2021-323477

Dunne EA, O'Donnell CPF, McCarthy LK, 2022 Apr, Temperature in very preterm infants from birth to neonatal intensive care unit admission. Acta Paediatr, DOI: 10.1111/apa.16218

Glennon K, Donnelly J, Knowles S, McAuliffe FM, O'Reilly A, Corcoran S, Walsh J, McMorrow R, Higgins T, Bolger L, Clinton S, O'Riordan S, Start A, Roche D, Bartels H, Malone C, McAuley K, McDermott A, Inzitari R, O'Donnell CPF, Malone F, Higgins S, De Gascun C, Doran P, Brennan DJ, 2021, Immunological assessment of SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnancy from diagnosis to delivery: A multicentre prospective study. PLoS One, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0253090

O'Donnell CPF, 2021 Jul, Neonatal resuscitation: it's a family affair. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed, DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2020-321423

Dunne EA, O'Donnell CPF, McCarthy LK, 2021 Nov, Prospective comparison of thermometers used in very preterm infants. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed, DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2020-321342

Thewissen L, Naulaers G, Hendrikx D, Caicedo A, Barrington K, Boylan G, Cheung PY, Corcoran D, El-Khuffash A, Garvey A, Macko J, Marlow N, Miletin J, O'Donnell CPF, O'Toole JM, Straňák Z, Van Laere D, Wiedermannova H, Dempsey E, 2021 Aug, Cerebral oxygen saturation and autoregulation during hypotension in extremely preterm infants. Pediatr Res, DOI: 10.1038/s41390-021-01483-w

Dempsey EM, Barrington KJ, Marlow N, O'Donnell CPF, Miletin J, Naulaers G, Cheung PY, Corcoran JD, El-Khuffash AF, Boylan GB, Livingstone V, Pons G, Macko J, Van Laere D, Wiedermannova H, Straňák Z, HIP consortium., 2021 Jul, Hypotension in Preterm Infants (HIP) randomised trial. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed, DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2020-320241

McCarthy LK, O'Donnell CPF, 2021 Sep, Comparison of rectal and axillary temperature measurements in preterm newborns. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed, DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2020-320627

Dunne EA, Cunningham K, O'Donnell CPF, McCarthy LK, 2021 Jul, Bench-top comparison of thermometers used in newborn infants. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed, DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2020-320123

Murphy MC, McCarthy LK, O'Donnell CPF, 2021 Mar, Initiation of respiratory support for extremely preterm infants at birth. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed, DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2020-319798

Bruschettini M, O'Donnell CP, Davis PG, Morley CJ, Moja L, Calevo MG, 2020 Mar 18, Sustained versus standard inflations during neonatal resuscitation to prevent mortality and improve respiratory outcomes. Cochrane Database Syst Rev, DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD004953.pub4

Murphy MC, McCarthy LK, O'Donnell CPF, 2020 Jan 1, Counting the heart rate in preterm newborns: Does clinical assessment predict the pulse oximeter? Resuscitation, DOI: 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2019.11.009

O'Donnell CPF, 2019 Nov, Face mask respiratory support for preterm infants: Takes their breath away? Resuscitation, DOI: 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2019.09.017

Murphy MC, Donoghue VB, O'Donnell CPF, 2020 Mar, Randomised trial of estimating oral endotracheal tube insertion depth in newborns using suprasternal palpation of the tip or weight. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed, DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2019-317328

Murphy MC, McCarthy LK, O'Donnell CPF, 2020 May, Crying and breathing by new-born preterm infants after early or delayed cord clamping. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed, DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2018-316592

O'Donnell CPF, 2019 Sep, Intubation difficulty in neonatology: are you experienced? Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed, DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2018-316711

Bruschettini M, Romantsik O, Zappettini S, O'Donnell CP, Calevo MG, 2019 Feb 1, Needle aspiration versus intercostal tube drainage for pneumothorax in the newborn. Cochrane Database Syst Rev, DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD011724.pub3

Perrem L, Semberova J, O'Sullivan A, Kieran EA, O'Donnell CPF, White MJ, Miletin J, 2019 Sep, Effect of Early Parenteral Nutrition Discontinuation on Time to Regain Birth Weight in Very Low Birth Weight Infants: A Randomized Controlled Trial. JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr, DOI: 10.1002/jpen.1502

Murphy MC, O’Donnell CPF, 2018 Dec 6, Pneumothorax in Newborns: Needle, Less Damage Done? Ir Med J, DOI: 10.1002/jpen.1502

Murphy MC, De Angelis L, McCarthy LK, O'Donnell CPF, 2019 Sep, Randomised study comparing heart rate measurement in newly born infants using a monitor incorporating electrocardiogram and pulse oximeter versus pulse oximeter alone. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed, DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2017-314366

Murphy MC, De Angelis L, McCarthy LK, O'Donnell CPF, 2018 Sep, Comparison of infant heart rate assessment by auscultation, ECG and oximetry in the delivery room. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed, DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2017-314367

Murphy MC, Heiring C, Doglioni N, Trevisanuto D, Blennow M, Bohlin K, Lista G, Stucchi I, O'Donnell CPF, 2018 Jul 1, Effect of Needle Aspiration of Pneumothorax on Subsequent Chest Drain Insertion in Newborns: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Pediatr, DOI: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2018.0623

McAleer MA, Jakasa I, Raj N, O'Donnell CPF, Lane ME, Rawlings AV, Voegeli R, McLean WHI, Kezic S, Irvine AD, 2018 Aug, Early-life regional and temporal variation in filaggrin-derived natural moisturizing factor, filaggrin-processing enzyme activity, corneocyte phenotypes and plasmin activity: implications for atopic dermatitis. Br J Dermatol, DOI: 10.1111/bjd.16691

O'Donnell CPF, 2017 Dec 21, The Timing of Cord Clamping for Preterm Infants. N Engl J Med, DOI: 10.1056/NEJMe1714522

Kieran EA, O'Sullivan A, Miletin J, Twomey AR, Knowles SJ, O'Donnell CPF, 2018 Mar, 2% chlorhexidine-70% isopropyl alcohol versus 10% povidone-iodine for insertion site cleaning before central line insertion in preterm infants: a randomised trial. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed, DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2016-312193

Murphy MC, O'Donnell CPF, McCarthy LK, 2018 Jan, Attittudes of staff members towards video recording in the delivery room. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed, DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2017-313789

Gill I, Stafford A, Murphy MC, Geoghegan AR, Crealey M, Laffan E, O'Donnell CPF, 2018 Jul, Randomised trial of estimating oral endotracheal tube insertion depth in newborns using weight or vocal cord guide. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed, DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2017-312798

Bruschettini M, O'Donnell CP, Davis PG, Morley CJ, Moja L, Zappettini S, Calevo MG, 2017 Jul 14, Sustained versus standard inflations during neonatal resuscitation to prevent mortality and improve respiratory outcomes. Cochrane Database Syst Rev, DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD004953.pub3

Murphy MC, O'Donnell CPF, 2017 Jul, The suprasternal notch: a surface landmark for endotracheal tube tip position in newborns? Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed, DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2016-312555

Murphy MC, De Angelis L, McCollum D, McCarthy LK, O'Donnell CP, 2017 Jul, A randomised cross-over study of methods of acquiring ECG heart rate in newborns. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed, DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2017-312866

O'Shea JE, Foster JP, O'Donnell CP, Breathnach D, Jacobs SE, Todd DA, Davis PG, 2017 Mar 11, Frenotomy for tongue-tie in newborn infants. Cochrane Database Syst Rev, DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD011065.pub2

Greene Z, O'Donnell CP, Walshe M, 2016 Sep 20, Oral stimulation for promoting oral feeding in preterm infants. Cochrane Database Syst Rev, DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD009720.pub2

Kieran EA, Laffan EE, O'Donnell CP, 2016 Oct, Positioning newborns on their back or right side for umbilical venous catheter insertion. Acta Paediatr, DOI: 10.1111/apa.13525

Wilkinson D, Andersen C, O'Donnell CP, De Paoli AG, Manley BJ, 2016 Feb 22, High flow nasal cannula for respiratory support in preterm infants. Cochrane Database Syst Rev, DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD006405.pub3

Klingenberg C, O'Donnell CP, 2016 Apr, Inflation breaths-A transatlantic divide in guidelines for neonatal resuscitation. Resuscitation, DOI: 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2015.12.021

Stenke E, Kieran EA, McCarthy LK, Dawson JA, Van Vonderen JJ, Kamlin CO, Davis PG, Te Pas AB, O'Donnell CP, 2016 Sep, A randomised trial of placing preterm infants on their back or left side after birth. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed, DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2015-309842

Bruschettini M, Romantsik O, Ramenghi LA, Zappettini S, O'Donnell CP, Calevo MG, 2016 Jan 11, Needle aspiration versus intercostal tube drainage for pneumothorax in the newborn. Cochrane Database Syst Rev, DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD011724.pub2

Kieran EA, Laffan EE, O'Donnell CP, 2016 Jan, Estimating umbilical catheter insertion depth in newborns using weight or body measurement: a randomised trial. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed, DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2014-307668

Geoghegan AR, Moore S, O'Donnell CP, 2015 Nov, Doctors' perceptions of the cost of consumable items used in neonatal intensive care. Acta Paediatr, DOI: 10.1111/apa.13145

O'Donnell CP, Bruschettini M, Davis PG, Morley CJ, Moja L, Calevo MG, Zappettini S, 2015 Jul 1, Sustained versus standard inflations during neonatal resuscitation to prevent mortality and improve respiratory outcomes. Cochrane Database Syst Rev, DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD004953.pub2

Flinn AM, Travers CP, Laffan EE, O'Donnell CP, 2015, Estimating the endotracheal tube insertion depth in newborns using weight or gestation: a randomised trial. Neonatology, DOI: 10.1159/000369375

Hickey L, Garland SM, Jacobs SE, O'Donnell CP, Tabrizi SN, ProPrems Study Group., 2014 Dec, Cross-colonization of infants with probiotic organisms in a neonatal unit. J Hosp Infect, DOI: 10.1016/j.jhin.2014.09.006

Kieran EA, O'Donnell CP, 2014 Nov, Accuracy of length measurements on neonatal umbilical catheters. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed, DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2014-306922

Gill I, O'Donnell CP, 2014 Jul, Vocal cord guides on neonatal endotracheal tubes. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed, DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2014-306028

Janvier A, Barrington KJ, Aziz K, Bancalari E, Batton D, Bellieni C, Bensouda B, Blanco C, Cheung PY, Cohn F, Daboval T, Davis P, Dempsey E, Dupont-Thibodeau A, Ferretti E, Farlow B, Fontana M, Fortin-Pellerin E, Goldberg A, Hansen TW, Haward M, Kovacs L, Lapointe A, Lantos J, Morley C, Moussa A, Musante G, Nadeau S, O'Donnell CP, Orfali K, Payot A, Ryan CA, Sant'anna G, Saugstad OD, Sayeed S, Stokes TA, Verhagen E, 2014 Jan, CPS position statement for prenatal counselling before a premature birth: Simple rules for complicated decisions. Paediatr Child Health, DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2014-306028

Dempsey EM, Barrington KJ, Marlow N, O'Donnell CP, Miletin J, Naulaers G, Cheung PY, Corcoran D, Pons G, Stranak Z, Van Laere D, HIP Consortium., 2014, Management of hypotension in preterm infants (The HIP Trial): a randomised controlled trial of hypotension management in extremely low gestational age newborns. Neonatology, DOI: 10.1159/000357553

Kieran EA, O'Callaghan N, O'Donnell CP, 2014 Apr, Unlicensed and off-label drug use in an Irish neonatal intensive care unit: a prospective cohort study. Acta Paediatr, DOI: 10.1111/apa.12541

O'Donnell CP, 2014 Apr, Plastics bags reduce hypothermia in newly born infants in the developing world. Evid Based Med, DOI: 10.1136/eb-2013-101513

McCarthy LK, Twomey AR, Molloy EJ, Murphy JF, O'Donnell CP, 2013 Aug, A randomized trial of nasal prong or face mask for respiratory support for preterm newborns. Pediatrics, DOI: 10.1542/peds.2013-0446

McCarthy LK, Morley CJ, Davis PG, Kamlin CO, O'Donnell CP, 2013 Dec, Timing of interventions in the delivery room: does reality compare with neonatal resuscitation guidelines? J Pediatr, DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2013.06.007

McCarthy LK, Molloy EJ, Twomey AR, Murphy JF, O'Donnell CP, 2013 Jul, A randomized trial of exothermic mattresses for preterm newborns in polyethylene bags. Pediatrics, DOI: 10.1542/peds.2013-0279

Hensey CC, Hayden E, O'Donnell CP, 2013 Sep, A randomised crossover study of low-flow air or oxygen via nasal cannulae to prevent desaturation in preterm infants. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed, DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2012-302623

Kamlin CO, O'Connell LA, Morley CJ, Dawson JA, Donath SM, O'Donnell CP, Davis PG, 2013 Jan, A randomized trial of stylets for intubating newborn infants. Pediatrics, DOI: 10.1542/peds.2012-0802

O'Donnell CP, Schmölzer GM, 2012 Dec, Resuscitation of preterm infants: delivery room interventions and their effect on outcomes. Clin Perinatol, DOI: 10.1016/j.clp.2012.09.010

Kieran EA, Twomey AR, Molloy EJ, Murphy JF, O'Donnell CP, 2012 Nov, Randomized trial of prongs or mask for nasal continuous positive airway pressure in preterm infants. Pediatrics, DOI: 10.1542/peds.2011-3548

O'Donnell CP, 2012 Sep, Turn and face the strange - ch..ch..ch..changes to neonatal resuscitation guidelines in the past decade. J Paediatr Child Health, DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-1754.2012.02531.x

McCarthy LK, Hensey CC, O'Donnell CP, 2012 Oct, In vitro effect of exothermic mattresses on temperature in the delivery room. Resuscitation, DOI: 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2012.07.004

McCarthy LK, O'Donnell CP, 2011 Dec, Warming preterm infants in the delivery room: polyethylene bags, exothermic mattresses or both? Acta Paediatr, DOI: 10.1111/j.1651-2227.2011.02375.x

Please visit PubMed for more information on Colm O’Donnell's publications

Funding Agency:	PedCRIN
Project Title:	POPART
Start Date/End Date:	July 2017/July 2020
Total Awarded:	€480,000
Role:	PI

Funding Agency:	NCRC
Project Title:	POPART
Start Date/End Date:	July 2017/July 2020
Total Awarded:	€221,055
Role:	PI

Funding Agency:	Chiesi Farmaceutici
Project Title:	POPART
Start Date/End Date:	July 2017/July 2020
Total Awarded:	€180,000
Role:	PI

Name:	Jan Miletin
Department	Neonatology
Institution:	Coombe Women’s and Infants University Hospital, Dublin
Country:	Ireland

Name:	Christian Heiring
Department	Neonatology
Institution:	Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen
Country:	Denmark

Name:	Kajsa Bohlin
Department	Neonatology
Institution:	Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm
Country:	Sweden

Name:	Claus Klingenberg
Department	Neonatology
Institution:	University of Northern Norway, TromsØ
Country:	Norway

Name:	Hans Jørgen Guthe
Department	Neonatology
Institution:	Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen
Country:	Norway

Name:	Daniele Trevisanuto
Department	Neonatology
Institution:	University of Padova
Country:	Italy

Name:	Gianluca Lista
Department	Neonatology
Institution:	Ospedale Vittori Buzzi, Milan
Country:	Italy

Name:	Vincent Rigo
Department	Neonatology
Institution:	CHU Liege
Country:	Belgium

Name:	Richard Plavka
Department	Neonatology
Institution:	Charles University, Prague
Country:	Czech Republic

Name:	Almerinda Pereira Barosso
Department	Neonatology
Institution:	Braga
Country:	Portugal

Current Trials & Studies

Study Name	Study Title	Study Type	Sponsor	Sponsor Type
POPART	Prophylactic Oropharyngeal Surfactant for Preterm Infants: A Randomised Trial (The POPART Trial)	Clinical Trial	University College Dublin	Academic – Investigator Led

Previous Trials & Studies

Study Name	Study Title	Study Type	Sponsor	Sponsor Type
The SKA Trial	Chlorhexidine versus Povidone-Iodine for Skin Antisepsis prior to Central Venous Catheter Insertion in Pre-term infants: Protocol for a Randomised Trial	Clinical Trial	University College Dublin	Academic-Investigator Led
DROPOM	Randomised controlled trial comparing prongs and masks for nasal continuous positive airways pressure (NCPAP) in premature babies with respiratory distress (POM).	Non- Interventional Clinical Trial	University College Dublin	Academic-Investigator Led
BORU	RCT of positioning newborn infants on the back or right side for umbilical venous catheter insertion.	Non-Interventional Clinical Trial	University College Dublin	Academic-Investigator Led
BAMBINO	Randomised controlled trial of exothermic mattresses for premature babies in polyethylene bags.	Non-Interventional Clinical Trial	University College Dublin	Academic-Investigator Led
NEDI3	Estimating neonatal oral endotracheal tube depth of insertion using weight or suprasternal palpation of the tip.	Non-Interventional Clinical Trial	National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street	Academic-Investigator Led
SHEEP2	Study of Heart Rate Evaluation using ECG in newly-born Preterm infants: the SHEEP2 study.	Non-Interventional Clinical Trial	National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street	Academic-Investigator Led

Professional Associations

Member of the Neonatal Task Force of the International Liaison Committee on resuscitation (ILCOR)
Member of the European Scientific Collaboration of Neonatal Resuscitation Research

Member of the Neonatal Task Force of the International Liaison Committee on resuscitation (ILCOR)

Member of the European Scientific Collaboration of Neonatal Resuscitation Research

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