Toward rational management of patent ductus arteriosus: ductal disease staging and first line paracetamol

Abstract

Aims To study paracetamol (PCM) use as first line therapy for significant patent ductus arteriosus (sPDA) closure, stratified by echocardiography. Methods In this retrospective observational study, a prepublished score comprising PDA size and velocity, PDA:left pulmonary artery ratio, diastolic flow in main and LPA, LA:Ao ratio and left ventricular:aortic ratio were included for shunt severity. Successful closure was defined a priori as closure or ≥50% reduction in score. Comparisons were made between infants with sPDA who were treated and not treated. Results During November 2017–2018, 227 infants from 23 to 31+6 weeks’ gestational age (GA) were admitted; 50 (22%) infants were diagnosed with PDA, 32 treated with PCM, overall treatment rate of 32/227 (14%). Successful therapy was noted in 23/32 (72%) and was higher when treated at ≤7 days (80 versus 68%, p = .68), in infants >26 weeks GA (62.5 versus 100%, p = .07) and BW >1000 g (65.4 versus 100%, p = .14). Univariate analysis noted statistical significance only for GA. Eighteen infants were managed conservatively. Treated infants had a lower GA and BW, higher composite ECHO score (14.4 ± 0.5 versus 19 ± 0.4, p < .001). Conclusions Composite scoring helped reduce exposure, and focus more on infants with lower GA and BW with greater shunt severity.