Prophylactic indomethacin in extremely-low-birth-weight infants
Journal
Clinical Neonatology
Journal Volume
10
Journal Issue
1
Pages
22-26
Date Issued
2003
Author(s)
Abstract
Prophylactic indomethacin has been reported to reduce the frequency of patent ductus arteriosus and severe intraventricular hemorrhage in very-low-birth-weight infants (birth weights below 1500 g). We retrospectively evaluated the effects of prophylactic indomethacin in extremely-low-birth-weight infants (birth weights below 1000 g). Extremely-low-birth-weight infants admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit between January 1, 1999 and December 31, 2001 were enrolled either to receive prophylactic intravenous indomethacin (0.1 mg/kg/day for 3 days) within 12 hours after birth or to receive no prophylactic indomethacin therapy as a control group. Sixty patients were enrolled and 26 received prophylactic indomethacin. The birth weight, gestational age, Apgar scores, frequency of multiple gestations, mode of delivery, and the incidence of respiratory distress syndrome were comparable between the 2 groups. No significant differences were found in the duration of oxygen therapy, mechanical ventilation, and hospitalization. The incidences of chronic lung disease, sepsis, necrotizing enterocolitis, intraventricular hemorrhage, and death were also comparable. Prophylactic indomethacin therapy decreased the incidence of symptomatic patent ductus arteriosus (15% vs. 41%, p = 0.018), and was not associated with significantly increased side effects. We concluded that early prophylactic administration of intravenous indomethacin in extremely-low-birth-weight infants significantly decreased the incidence of patent ductus arteriosus, and reduced the need for medical and surgical closure of the patent ductus arteriosus.
SDGs
Other Subjects
indometacin; lung surfactant; oxygen; steroid; Apgar score; article; artificial ventilation; birth weight; bleeding; brain hemorrhage; chronic lung disease; controlled study; creatinine blood level; delivery; drug treatment failure; drug withdrawal; encephalomalacia; extremely low birth weight; female; gestational age; heart surgery; hospital admission; hospitalization; human; hyperkalemia; incidence; intestine perforation; major clinical study; male; multiple pregnancy; necrotizing enterocolitis; newborn; newborn death; newborn intensive care; newborn sepsis; oliguria; oxygen therapy; patent ductus arteriosus; primary prevention; respiratory distress syndrome; retrolental fibroplasia; retrospective study; side effect; statistical significance; thrombocytopenia; unspecified side effect; urine volume
Type
journal article