title: Effects of indomethacin on cerebral haemodynamics in very preterm infants.
abstract: Near infrared spectroscopy was used to investigate the effects of intravenously administered indomethacin (0.1-0.2 mg/kg) on cerebral haemodynamics and oxygen delivery in 13 very preterm infants treated for patent ductus arteriosus. 7 infants received indomethacin by rapid injection (30 s) and 6 by slow infusion (20-30 min). In all the infants cerebral blood flow, oxygen delivery, blood volume, and the reactivity of blood volume to changes in arterial carbon dioxide tension fell sharply after indomethacin. There were no differences in the effects of rapid and slow infusion. These falls in cerebral oxygen delivery and the disruption of cerebrovascular control might compromise cellular oxygen availability, particularly in regions of the brain where the arterial supply is precarious. Care should be taken to ensure that oxygen delivery is optimum before the administration of indomethacin to preterm infants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, University College and Middlesex School of Medicine, London, UK.
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Wyatt
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Potter
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cope
authors.forename: D T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Delpy
authors.forename: E O
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Reynolds
mesh_terms: D001785:Blood Gas Monitoring, Transcutaneous; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D001810:Blood Volume / Q000187:drug effects*; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D004374:Ductus Arteriosus, Patent / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D013055:Spectrophotometry, Infrared / Q000295:instrumentation
chemical_list: D007213:Indomethacin