Categories
Change Password!
Reset Password!
Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is among the most frequently encountered cardiac complications in extremely premature infants and is associated with respiratory compromise, prolonged hospitalization, and increased neonatal complications.
Intravenous ibuprofen achieves a greater tendency for ductal closure than acetaminophen in premature neonates, with both therapies showing similar safety profiles.
Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is among the most frequently encountered cardiac complications in extremely premature infants and is associated with respiratory compromise, prolonged hospitalization, and increased neonatal complications. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen are widely utilized for ductal closure, whereas acetaminophen has emerged as an alternative therapeutic option in infants who may not tolerate conventional therapy. The investigation assessed whether intravenous (IV) acetaminophen provided comparable efficacy and safety to IV ibuprofen when administered as initial therapy for PDA closure in preterm neonates.
Researchers performed the study in a tertiary neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in Saudi Arabia. Premature infants born at or below 32 weeks of gestation with echocardiographically confirmed PDA were included. Eligible neonates received either IV ibuprofen or acetaminophen as first-line pharmacologic management. Clinical records were reviewed to evaluate PDA closure rates, treatment response, and adverse safety outcomes. Comparative analyses between both therapeutic groups were subsequently conducted.
In this retrospective observational study, 95 treatment courses were evaluated, with hemodynamically significant PDA confirmed predominantly through ultrasound examination. IV ibuprofen demonstrated a higher numerical PDA closure rate than IV acetaminophen in preterm neonates, although the difference was not statistically significant (Table 1).
In premature neonates, IV ibuprofen produced a numerically higher rate of PDA closure than IV acetaminophen. Both medications were tolerated similarly, suggesting that acetaminophen could serve as an alternative therapeutic option in selected clinical situations.
Children (Basel)
Evaluating the Effectiveness of Ibuprofen Versus Acetaminophen in Closing Patent Ductus Arteriosus in Preterm Neonates
Shaimaa Alsulami et al.
Comments (0)