Neonatal medical admission in a term and late-preterm cohort exposed to magnesium sulfate

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to estimate neonatal intensive care unit and special care unit (NICU) admission rates and care needs among term and late-preterm neonates who are exposed to antenatal magnesium sulfate. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of all singleton neonates of ≥35 weeks' gestation who were exposed immediately antenatally to magnesium sulfate for maternal eclampsia prophylaxis (August 2006 through July 2008). Fifty-one of 242 neonates (21.1%) who, at ≥35 weeks' gestation, had been exposed to antenatal magnesium sulfate were admitted to the NICU. NICU admission was associated in a dose-dependent fashion with total hours and mean dose of magnesium: >12 hours exposure, odds ratio, 2.81 (95% confidence interval, 1.31-6.03); >30 g exposure, odds ratio, 2.59 (95% confidence interval, 1.22-5.51). Infants in NICU who were diagnosed with hypermagnesemia required fluid or nutritional support more frequently (91.3% vs 39.3%; P < .001) than those without hypermagnesemia. Antenatal magnesium sulfate exposure is associated with NICU admission among term and late-preterm neonates in a dose-dependent fashion. Fluid and nutritional assistance commonly are needed in this cohort.