Early Treatment Versus Delayed Conservative Treatment of the Patent Ductus Arteriosus in Preterm infants-a Multicenter Trial
Early Treatment Versus Delayed Conservative Treatment of the Patent Ductus Arteriosus in Preterm infants-a Multicenter Trial
The primary goal of the trial is to compare two different Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) treatment approaches: 1) an "early treatment" approach or 2) a "conservative" approach. For the purposes of the study infants will be enrolled if they are delivered before 28 weeks gestation and have a moderate/large PDA present at 5-7 days after birth.
The hypothesis is: treatment of a moderate size patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) will decrease the time needed for assisted respiratory support, diuretic therapy, and gavage feeding assistance, in addition to decreasing the incidence of ductus ligations or need for future outpatient cardiology follow-up appointments. The investigators hypothesize that one or more of these benefits will occur without an increase in the time taken to achieve full enteral feedings or in the incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) or spontaneous intestinal perforations (SIP).The investigators will be comparing the effectiveness of early pharmacologic treatment with a control group of conservatively managed infants who will only receive treatment if they meet specific criteria for "rescue treatment".
Prior studies showed that, if a moderate/large Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) is still present at 5 days after birth (among infants delivered at 23 and 0/7 to 25 and 6/7 weeks gestation) or at 7 days after birth (among infants delivered at 26 and 0/7 to 27 and 6/7 weeks gestation), it will persist for at least another 4-12 weeks if it is left untreated.
Inclusion Criteria:
This will be a prospective randomized, multi-center, controlled trial that will enroll infants delivered between 23 & 0/7 - 27 & 6/7 weeks gestation:
infants must be between 5-14 days old (if delivered between 23 and 0/7 - 25 and 6/7 weeks) or 7-14 days old (if delivered between 26 & 0/7 - 27 & 6/7 weeks) and
have a "moderate size PDA" (defined as a PDA on echocardiogram that has at least one of the following criteria: internal ductus diameter ≥1.5 mm/kg (or PDA:LPA ratio ≥0.5), ductus flow velocity ≤2.5 m/s or mean pressure gradient across the ductus <8 mm, LA/Ao ratio ≥1.5, left pulmonary artery diastolic (or mean) flow velocity >0.2 (or >0.42) m/sec, respectively, and/or reversed diastolic flow in the descending aorta)(13, 68, 69) and
are receiving respiratory support consisting of either mechanical ventilation, nasal CPAP, SiPAP, or nasal cannula flow ≥2 L/min.
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Exclusion Criteria:
prior treatment with indomethacin, ibuprofen, or acetaminophen, contraindications for the use of indomethacin, ibuprofen, or acetaminophen (these include: hydrocortisone administration within 24 hrs, urine output < 1 ml/kg/h during the preceding 8 h, serum creatinine level >1.6 mg/dl, platelet count <50, 000/mm3, abnormal coagulation studies, or total bilirubin concentration (in mg/dL) > 8 x weight (in kg)), chromosomal anomalies, congenital or acquired gastrointestinal anomalies, prior episode of necrotizing enterocolitis or intestinal perforation.
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