P S Koehne1, G Bein, V Alexi-Meskhishvili, Y Weng, C Bührer, M Obladen. 1. Departments of Neonatology and Pediatric Cardiology, Charité Virchow Hospital, Humboldt University, Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, German Heart Institute Berlin, Germany. petra.koehne@charite.de
Abstract
AIMS: To evaluate complications of surgical and pharmacological treatment of symptomatic patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in very low birthweight (VLBW) infants. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Of 931 VLBW infants consecutively admitted 1987-1998, a significant PDA prompted first-choice treatment by indomethacin in 101 infants, and surgery in 55 infants. PDA closed or became asymptomatic after indomethacin in 64 patients (63%), while 34 went on to surgery. PDA closure was achieved in all 61 infants after ligation and in 26 of 28 infants after clipping. RESULTS: Transient renal impairment after indomethacin treatment was recorded in 40 of 101 infants (40%), compared to renal impairment in 9 of 55 infants (16%) undergoing surgery without prior indomethacin. No differences in necrotizing enterocolitis and intracranial hemorrhage rates were seen. Air leak occurred in 6 of 89 infants after surgery, two of which had fatal tension pneumothorax. Intraoperative hemorrhage requiring emergency transfusion occurred in 2 infants, wound infection occurred in 2 infants and phrenic palsy in one infant. Based on an intention-to-treat analysis, the overall fatality rates were 16 of 101 (16%) for indomethacin and 14 of 55 (25%) for surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the short-comings inherent to retrospective analyses, we propose that surgery should be reserved for infants not responding to pharmacological PDA closure.
AIMS: To evaluate complications of surgical and pharmacological treatment of symptomatic patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in very low birthweight (VLBW) infants. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Of 931 VLBW infants consecutively admitted 1987-1998, a significant PDA prompted first-choice treatment by indomethacin in 101 infants, and surgery in 55 infants. PDA closed or became asymptomatic after indomethacin in 64 patients (63%), while 34 went on to surgery. PDA closure was achieved in all 61 infants after ligation and in 26 of 28 infants after clipping. RESULTS: Transient renal impairment after indomethacin treatment was recorded in 40 of 101 infants (40%), compared to renal impairment in 9 of 55 infants (16%) undergoing surgery without prior indomethacin. No differences in necrotizing enterocolitis and intracranial hemorrhage rates were seen. Air leak occurred in 6 of 89 infants after surgery, two of which had fatal tension pneumothorax. Intraoperative hemorrhage requiring emergency transfusion occurred in 2 infants, wound infection occurred in 2 infants and phrenic palsy in one infant. Based on an intention-to-treat analysis, the overall fatality rates were 16 of 101 (16%) for indomethacin and 14 of 55 (25%) for surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the short-comings inherent to retrospective analyses, we propose that surgery should be reserved for infants not responding to pharmacological PDA closure.