Significance of monitoring non-invasive cardiac output parameters on the treatment of premature infants with patent ductus arteriosus

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the value of monitoring non-invasive cardiac output parameters in medical treatment of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in premature infants. Method Premature infants with PDA diagnosed three days after birth (gestational age: 28~31 weeks or birth weight of 1 000 ~ 1 799 g) admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of our Hospital from February 2016 to August 2016 were enrolled in the study. These premature infants were assigned into treated PDA group (the treatment group) and untreated PDA group (the observation group) based on results of non-invasive cardiac output parameters CI and MD, with aorta CI≥2.95 L/(min·m2), MD≥21.50 m/min and pulmonary artery CI≥4.55 L/(min·m2), MD≥26.50 m/min as cut-off values. Statistical analysis was carried out using t test, χ2 test. The closure rate of arterial duct of two groups and changes in non-invasive cardiac output parameters before and after the closure of arterial duct in the treatment group were compared. Result The overall closure rate of arterial duct was 85.1% (57/67). The closure rate of arterial duct of the treatment group was 70.8% (17/24), that of the observation group was 93.0% (40/43), and the difference had statistical significance (P 0.05). Conclusion Non-invasive cardiac output parameters including aorta and pulmonary artery CI, MD have certain guiding significance for PDA drug treatment among premature infants; after PDA drug treatment, arterial duct closure condition cannot be judged simply by the changes of aorta and pulmonary artery CI, MD, ultrasonic cardiogram examination results should also be considered. Key words: Ductus arteriosus, patent; Hemodynamics; Ultrasonography; Drug therapy