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1: Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. 2007 Nov;92(6):F498-502.Click here to read Links
Comment in:
Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. 2007 Nov;92(6):F424-7.
Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. 2008 Sep;93(5):F394-5.

Patent ductus arteriosus: lack of evidence for common treatments.

Bose CL, Laughon MM.

Carl L Bose, Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, CB#7596, UNC Hospital, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7596, USA cbose@med.unc.edu

Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a common diagnosis among extremely premature infants, especially in those with lung disease. Treatments are often used to close the PDA. Despite nearly three decades of research, the question of whether the benefits of treatments to prevent ductal patency or promote closure outweigh the risks of these treatments remains unanswered. The authors rarely use treatments designed to close the PDA. This article reviews three considerations in support of this restrained approach: rates of spontaneous closure of the ductus arteriosus; adverse effect of persistent ductal patency; and benefits and risks of treatments for closure.

PMID: 17951552 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]