Clinical outcomes after more conservative management of patent ductus arteriosus in preterm infants

Abstract

ObjectiveManagement of patent ductus arteriosus is still controversial. This study aimed to describe the impact of a more conservative approach on treatment rates and on main outcomes of prematurity, especially in preterm infants with <26 weeks of gestation. MethodClinical charts review of infants ≤30 weeks with patent ductus arteriosus between 2009 and 2016 at two centers. In 2011, the authors changed patent ductus arteriosus management: in first period (2009–2011), patients who failed medical treatment underwent surgical closure; in second period (2012–2016), only those with cardiopulmonary compromise underwent surgical ligation. Medical treatment, surgical closure, mortality, and survival‐without‐morbidity were compared. ResultsThis study included 188 patients (27±2 weeks, 973±272 grams); 63 in P1 and 125 in P2. In P2, significantly lower rates of medical treatment (85.7% P1 versus 56% P2, p<0.001) and surgical closure (34.5% P1 versus 16.1% P2, p<0.001) were observed. No differences were found in chronic lung disease (28.8% versus 13.9%, p=0.056), severe retinopathy of prematurity (7.5% versus 11.8%, p=0.403), necrotizing enterocolitis (15.5% versus 6.9%, p=0.071), severe intraventricular hemorrhage (25.4% versus 18.4%, p=0.264), mortality (17.5% versus 15.2%, p=0.690) or survival‐without‐morbidity adjusted OR=1.10 (95% CI: 0.55–2.22); p=0.783. In P2, 24.5% patients were discharged with patent ductus arteriosus. The subgroup born between 23 and 26 weeks (n=82) showed significant differences: lower incidence of chronic lung disease (50% versus 19.6%, p=0.019) and more survival‐without‐morbidity (20% versus 45.6%, p=0.028) were found. ConclusionA conservative approach in preterm infants with patent ductus arteriosus can avoid medical and surgical treatments, without a significant impact in survival‐without‐morbidity. However, two‐thirds of preterm infants under 26 weeks are still treated.