title: Combining phenobarbital and indomethacin to improve early neonatal outcomes in the extremely low birth weight infant.
abstract: In this retrospective study, we tested the following hypotheses: rates of severe intraventricular hemorrhage (SIVH) and early neonatal survival are similar among extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants treated with combination prophylaxis of phenobarbital and indomethacin compared with phenobarbital alone or no prophylaxis; and rates of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) and necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) are similar among indomethacin-exposed and nonexposed ELBW infants. Data were abstracted on 265 ELBW infants admitted into a level 3 neonatal intensive care unit from 1994 through 2002. Combination prophylaxis neither reduced the odds ratio (OR) of SIVH (OR = 1.53; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.43 to 1.16) versus phenobarbital (OR = 2.91; 95% CI, 0.91 to 9.27 versus none (OR = 1; 95% CI, reference) nor increased the odds of early neonatal survival (OR = 0.72; 95% CI, 0.17 to 3.09 for combination prophylaxis versus OR = 0.66; 95% CI, 0.16 to 2.67 for phenobarbital versus OR = 1; 95% CI, reference for none). Indomethacin exposure reduced the odds of PDA (OR = 0.35; 95% CI, 0.17 to 0.75) without increasing the risk of NEC (OR = 1.37; 95% CI, 0.60 to 3.12). In conclusion, combination prophylaxis does not improve SIVH and early neonatal survival outcomes. Early exposure to indomethacin offers some benefits without any added risks.
authors.affiliation: Section of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Children's Mercy Hospital and Clinics, Kansas City, Missouri 64108, USA.
authors.forename: Felix A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Okah
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Mundy
authors.forename: Ikechukwu I
authors.initials: II
authors.lastname: Ekekezie
mesh_terms: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D020345:Enterocolitis, Necrotizing / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D020300:Intracranial Hemorrhages / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016015:Logistic Models; D010634:Phenobarbital / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D007213:Indomethacin; D010634:Phenobarbital