Neonatal Med.  2015 Nov;22(4):198-204. 10.5385/nm.2015.22.4.198.

Risk Factors for Postoperative Cardiopulmonary Instability Following Ligation of Patent Ductus Arteriosus in Very Low Birth Weight Infants

• Kim SJ
• Shin JE
• Lee SM
• Eun HS
• Park MS
• Park KI
• Namgung R

• KMID: 2130688
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5385/nm.2015.22.4.198

Abstract

PURPOSE
Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is common in preterm infants, and about 30% of preterm infants undergo surgical ligation of the PDA. Cardiopulmonary instability, defined as hypotension and respiratory failure after PDA ligation, is reported to occur at a frequency of 40-50%. This study investigated the factors affecting cardiopulmonary instability after PDA ligation in preterm infants.
METHODS
The medical records of 45 very low birth weight (VLBW) infants who underwent PDA ligation in the neonatal intensive care unit from January 2009 to December 2013 were analyzed retrospectively. PDA ligation was only performed when medical treatment for hemodynamically significant PDA failed or was contraindicated. The cases were categorized into the hemodynamic instability (n=20) and control (n=25) groups.
RESULTS
Patients underwent ligation at the mean age of 14.3+/-13.3 days. There were no significant differences between groups in mortality or weaning from ventilation after PDA ligation. In the hemodynamic instability group, birth weight was significantly lower (P=0.046) and the pre-operation C-reactive protein (CRP) level was significantly higher (P=0.042) than in the control group. The use of high-frequency ventilation was higher in the hemodynamic instability group (P=0.033). There were no differences in use of inotropics, mean airway pressure at ligation, timing of ligation, or PDA size between groups. The birth weight and pre-operation CRP level at the time of ligation remained a significant risk factor for cardiopulmonary instability on multiple logistic regression analysis.
CONCLUSION
In VLBW infants, lower birth weight and a higher pre-operation CRP level are related to unstable conditions after PDA ligation.

Keyword

Patent ductus arteriosus; Ligation; Very low birth weight infants; Cardiopulmonary instability

MeSH Terms

Birth Weight
C-Reactive Protein
Ductus Arteriosus, Patent*
Hemodynamics
High-Frequency Ventilation
Humans
Hypotension
Infant*
Infant, Newborn
Infant, Premature
Infant, Very Low Birth Weight*
Intensive Care, Neonatal
Ligation*
Logistic Models
Medical Records
Mortality
Respiratory Insufficiency
Retrospective Studies
Risk Factors*
Ventilation
Weaning
C-Reactive Protein