Search

Background: The similarity in the mechanism of action between paracetamol and ibuprofen can cause similar side effects. However, in preterm neonates with feeding intolerance, intravenous (IV) paracetamol has replaced oral ibuprofen. Therefore, a comparison of the effectiveness and side effects is essential., Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, the data of 118 preterm infants with a definite diagnosis of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), including 59 patients who received oral ibuprofen and 59 patients who received IV paracetamol were analyzed. Laboratory evaluations of serum total and direct bilirubin, hemoglobin, and creatinine levels before and seven days after treatment were made. Using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and multiple multinomial logistic regression models, the effect of two treatment groups on the post-treatment variables as well as their efficacy comparison were evaluated., Results: In both pre- and post-treatment periods, there was no significant association between echocardiography variables with treatment groups. The results from the ANCOVA model showed that the paracetamol and ibuprofen were followed by a significant decrease in the mean total bilirubin and Hct variables after treatment by 1.38 and 1.65 units, respectively. In addition, results from the Mann-Whitney U test revealed that the median Hb and K differences after and before treatment had a significant difference between the two treatment groups. Furthermore, based on the multiple multinomial logistic model results, the odds of complete arterial duct closure with IV paracetamol was 1.27 times higher than with oral ibuprofen, while in the oral ibuprofen group, the odds of closing was 1.44 times higher than the IV paracetamol group, but there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups., Conclusion: Intravenous paracetamol has equal efficacy compared to oral ibuprofen in the treatment of PDA. Also, it seems to be associated with a lower risk of hyperbilirubinemia following the treatment., (© 2023 The Author(s). This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.)

Background: Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) has brought about a significant change in care and treatment of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in very low birth weight (VLBW) neonates. The present study was designed and conducted to evaluate different strategies of initial respiratory support (IRS) in VLBW neonates hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)., Methods: This prospective study was conducted over three years (March 21, 2011 to March 20, 2014). Each eligible VLBW baby with RDS diagnosis received a specific IRS, including room air (RA), oxygen therapy (O2 RX), n.CPAP, NIPPV, MV ± SURF, based on clinical evaluation; then, the next strategies were selected based on the disease progression. Obtained data was entered in SPSS and the groups were compared for disease consequences or death. Then, contributing factors to the failure of NIV strategies, and the need for endotracheal mechanical ventilation (eMV) were determined., Results: In total, 499 neonates were included in the study. The mean birth weight was 1,125 ± 254 g and the gestational age was 29.2 ± 2.5 weeks. The IRS included: RA = 43, O2.RX = 60, n.CPAP/NIPPV = 219, INSURE = 83 and MV ± SURF = 177. In terms of the need for IRS upgrading during hospitalization, neonates not on mechanical ventilation (64.5%) were divided into three groups. In 45.3% of cases, the IRS did not change (Never upgrading); in 24.5% of cases, the level of IRS increased but there was no need for eMV in the first three days of life (Specific); in 24.8% of cases, there was need for eMV within the first three days of life (Absolute) and during hospitalization (after the first three days of life) 5.3% of cases were in need of eMV (General). In terms of correlation between the effective variables in IRS upgrading, univariable analyses showed that low gestational age, low birth weight, multiple pregnancy, maternal disease, low one-minute Apgar score, and need for surfactant therapy had significant correlation, and multivariable analysis showed that low gestational age, low birth weight and maternal disease were risk factors independently correlated to IRS upgrading, CLD and death., Conclusion: Early use of NIV in preterm neonates with mild to moderate respiratory distress and spontaneous breathing significantly reduced the need for intubation, surfactant, mechanical ventilation and thereby pulmonary and non-pulmonary complications and neonatal mortality.