Prophylaxis of Patent Ductus Arteriosus with Paracetamol in Extremely Low Gestational Age Newborns (ELGANs): A Single-Institution Observational Study in Vietnam

Abstract

Introduction: Prophylactic paracetamol for extremely low gestation age neonates (ELGAN, n = 104) with infants (n = 76) treated with prophylactic paracetamol (20 mg/kg loading, 7.5 mg/kg qid for 4 days), in a tertiary neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in Vietnam. Oral ibuprofen or intravenous therapeutic paracetamol were administered if prophylactic paracetamol failed to close sPDA. Surgical ligation was conducted if targeted medical intervention failed, or the infant deteriorated from conditions attributable to sPDA. Results: In the historical cohort, 57 (55%) infants died within 7 days of life compared to 18 (24%) from the prophylactic cohort (p p = 0.6). Duration of hospitalization for survivors was lower in the prophylactic cohort (mean 74 vs. 97 days, p = 0.01). In the prophylactic cohort, 24 (41%) infants did not need further treatment while 34 (59%) required further treatment including ibuprofen and/or paracetamol 28 (48%) and surgical ligation 22 (38%). Conclusions: Prophylactic paracetamol for ELGAN in LMIC does not reduce the need for surgical ligation, sPDA rates, and other PDA-related morbidities in infants who survive beyond 7 days of age. It may reduce the risk of death and the duration of hospitalization but further study into the reasons behind this need to be determined with larger studies.

Keywords

• patent ductus arteriosus
• paracetamol
• PDA closure
• PDA ligation
• respiratory distress syndrome