Management of Patent Ductus in Premature Infants

Launched by NATIONAL HEART, LUNG, AND BLOOD INSTITUTE (NHLBI) · Oct 27, 1999

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

BACKGROUND:

The incidence of patent ductus arteriosus is higher in premature infants than in full-term infants and is highest in premature infants who have respiratory distress syndrome. It is generally agreed that intervention in an asymptomatic infant with a small left-to-right shunt is unnecessary, since the patent ductus almost invariably closes spontaneously and thus does not require surgery. A few infants will demonstrate signs of a large shunt during the course of respiratory distress syndrome. Many of these infants will improve with medical management of congestive heart failure, b...

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• • Boy and girl premature infants with patent ductus arteriosus. Birth weight of 1,750 grams or less. Admitted to participating institution within first 24 hours of life.