title: Oral versus intravenous paracetamol: which is better in closure of patent ductus arteriosus in very low birth weight infants?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the efficacy of oral and intravenous paracetamol for closure of hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus (HSPDA) in very low birth weight (VLBW) preterm infants.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen VLBW infants with HSPDA treated with either intravenous (n = 10) or oral (n = 8) paracetamol at 60 mg/kg/d for three consecutive days were analysed retrospectively. Ductal closure rate and evaluation of liver function tests were the major outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After two courses of treatment, HSPDA closure rate was higher in oral paracetamol group than that in the intravenous paracetamol group (88% versus 70%), but it was not statistically significant (p = 0.588). Liver function tests were normal after the treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although it was not statistically significant, the cumulative closure rates were higher in oral paracetamol group than those in the intravenous group. Larger trials are needed to confirm these data.
authors.affiliation: a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and.
authors.forename: Selim
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sancak
authors.affiliation: a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and.
authors.forename: Tulin
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gokmen Yildirim
authors.affiliation: a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and.
authors.forename: Sevilay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Topcuoglu
authors.affiliation: b Department of Pediatric Cardiology , Zeynep Kamil Maternity and Children's Training and Research Hospital , Istanbul , Turkey.
authors.forename: Taner
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yavuz
authors.affiliation: a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and.
authors.forename: Guner
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Karatekin
authors.affiliation: a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and.
authors.forename: Fahri
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ovali
mesh_terms: D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D061605:Administration, Intravenous; D000284:Administration, Oral; D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004374:Ductus Arteriosus, Patent / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D000082:Acetaminophen
keywords: Intravenous; oral; paracetamol; patent ductus arteriosus; premature