title: [OPIATES USE IN VERY-LOW-BIRTH-WEIGHT INFANTS--CALL FOR CAUTION].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants are occasionally treated with opiates for sedation and pain relief.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study the short term outcomes of VLBW infants treated with opiates.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a retrospective study of all VLBW infants born during the period 2006-2010; 45 were treated with opiates (41 fentanyl continuous IV drip and 4 IV morphine prn); 114 served as controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the univariate analysis, VLBW infants treated by opiates had significantly lower Gestational Age (GA) (28.3 ± 2.4 vs. 30.3 ± 2.1 weeks) and BW (1012 ± 299 vs. 1204 ± 219 grams] and required longer periods of ventilatory support (30.3 ± 21.0 vs. 7.7 ± 12.0 days) and oxygen supplementation (40.4 ± 40.3 vs. 7.7 ± 17.3 days). They had significantly more intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), late onset infections, necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Time to reach full enteral (32.5 ± 22.1 vs. 15.6 ± 6.1 days) and full oral (64.6 ± 25.0 vs. 42.0 ± 20.7 days) feedings and length of stay (89.6 ± 37.1 vs. 53.7 ± 20.8 days) were significantly longer. In multivariate analysis, after controlling for GA and BW, opiates remained significantly associated only with PDA and longer ventilatory support and time to full enteral feeding.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of opiates in VLBW infants may be associated with short term morbidities. Thus, opiates should be used with caution in this age group, and alternative approaches for sedation or pain relief should be considered. Randomized controlled studies are warranted to support our findings.
authors.forename: Arieh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Riskin
authors.forename: Irit
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Shoris
authors.forename: Galina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kidalov
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bader
authors.forename: Liron
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Borenstein-levin
authors.forename: Amir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kugelman
mesh_terms: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004750:Enteral Nutrition / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005283:Fentanyl / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005865:Gestational Age; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D007902:Length of Stay; D009020:Morphine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010100:Oxygen / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D009020:Morphine; D010100:Oxygen; D005283:Fentanyl