Preschool assessment of infants with a patent ductus arteriosus: comparison of ligation and indomethacin therapy.

We report the preschool growth and development of preterm infants with problematic patent ductus artferiosus requiring either surgical ligation or indomethacinn treatment in the neonatal period. Of 60 who completed longitudinal growth assessments, no differences in growth to 3 years could be demonstrated except for four cases of regressed retinopathy of prematurity among the ligated infants. Developmental tests (Bayley Scales of Infant Development and the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test) showed no group differences at preschool ages. Although psychomotor performance on the Bayley Scales in the first 1 1/2 years was significantly lower among the surgically treated infants, later analysis showed that a similar number in both treatment groups scored within the normal range. No selective short- or long-term adverse effects of indomethacin treatment could be demonstrated.