Serial echocardiography in very preterm infants: a pilot randomized trial.

ABSTRACT:

Aim

To determine whether routine echocardiography increases diagnosis and treatment for patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) and whether randomized nondisclosure is a feasible strategy for studying PDA management.

Methods

Two-centre, pilot randomized, controlled trial. 88 infants with birth weights ≤1250 grams and gestational ages ≤30 weeks were randomized to disclosure or nondisclosure of serial echocardiogram findings. Echocardiograms were performed at 3-5 and 7-10 days of life. The primary outcome was time to regain birth weight.

Results

100% of echocardiograms in the disclosure group were disclosed; 16% (echocardiogram #1) and 29% (echocardiogram #2) were disclosed in the nondisclosure group. There was a statistically nonsignificant decrease in drug therapy for PDA in t

SUBMITTER: DeMauro SB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3867206 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature