title: Comparison of intravenous and enteral indomethacin administration for closure of patent ductus arteriosus in extremely-low-birth-weight infants.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objective of this retrospective cohort study was to compare the patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) closure rate with different routes (intravenous and enteral) of indomethacin treatment and neonatal outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Infants with a birthweight < 1,000 g born between July 1997 and June 2007 at Taipei Veterans General Hospital and who received indomethacin treatment for PDA were included in the study. Outcome measures were ductal closure rate and neonatal outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 41 extremely-low-birth-weight infants with PDA, 3 infants had spontaneous closure and 3 died before treatment. Of the remaining 35 infants, 13 received enteral ethanol solution of indomethacin and 22 received the intravenous (IV) form. The total closure rates of the IV and enteral groups were 81.8% and 76.9%, respectively. There were no significant differences in the incidence of impaired renal function, necrotizing enterocolitis, chronic lung disease or severe retinopathy of prematurity between the 2 groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that ethanol-based indomethacin is an effective alternative to IV indomethacin for the pharmacological closure of PDA in extremely-low-birth-weight infants.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors.forename: Pei-Chen
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Tsao
authors.forename: Shu-Jen
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chia-Feng
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Yu-Sheng
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Mei-Jy
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Jeng
authors.forename: Wen-Jue
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Soong
authors.forename: Pi-Chang
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jen-Her
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Betau
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Ren-Bin
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D004374:Ductus Arteriosus, Patent / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007223:Infant; D052577:Infant, Extremely Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D007213:Indomethacin