Early Treatment Versus Expectative Management of PDA in Preterm Infants

Much controversy exists about the optimal management of a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in preterm infants, especially in those born at a gestational age \<28 weeks and/or a birth weight ≦1000 grams due to a lack of evidence for or against different approaches. A PDA has been associated with serious complications. However, a common finding is that medical and/or surgical treatment of a PDA seems not to reduce the risk of mortality or major morbidity. This might be related to the fact that a substantial portion of preterm infants are treated unnecessarily, because the ductus arteriosus (DA) might have closed spontaneously without any specific intervention. An expectative approach is gaining interest, although convincing evidence is still missing. The objective of this study is to investigate whether in preterm infants \<28 weeks' gestation with a PDA an expectative management is not inferior to early treatment with regard to the composite of mortality and/or necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and/or bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) at a postmenstrual age of 36 weeks.

After obtainment of informed consent the first echocardiographic evaluation is performed at a postnatal age of 24-72 hours. In absence of exclusion criteria patients will only be randomized when a PDA is present, the transductal diameter measures \>1.5 mm and a blood flow pattern with a predominantly left-to-right shunt is observed. Randomization will assign the neonate to either the medical treatment (COXi) arm or the expectative PDA management arm. It is essential that neonatal management is similar in both arms with the exception of the prescription of COX-inhibition and routine echocardiographic examination after a course of COXi in the medical treatment arm. Medical treatment arm When the patient is allocated to the medical treatment arm COX-inhibition is prescribed and started as soon as possible, but no later than 3 hours after the echocardiogram. The investigators prefer to use Ibuprofen (IBU) for COX-inhibition in this study. Aside from the above mentioned reasons the investigators are confronted with an actual lack of availability of indomethacin in most centers in the Netherlands and Belgium. However, Indomethacin (INDO) can be prescribed for medical ductal closure if this is preferred by a participating center. The dosing schemes for IBU and INDO are according the local guidelines. For the first week of life the birth weight is used for calculation of the COXi dosage. After a postnatal age of 7 days the actual weight is used for dose calculation, except when the actual weight is still less than the birthweight. The treatment described above is considered standard of care in many NICU's worldwide. It should be noted that there is no modification of the commonly advised usage of IBU in this study. There are reports that suggest that an high dose of IBU might be more effective in ductal closure in preterm infants, especially in those less than 27 weeks' gestation. However, in a systematic review one refrained from recommendations regarding high dose IBU because of the limited number of patients enrolled in studies. The preferred route of administration of IBU is intravenously. However, this is at the disposal of the attending physician, since enteral administration appears at least as effective. Echocardiographic reevaluation is performed at least 12 hours after the last (3rd) dose of the first COXi course. If the ductus arteriosus is found to be closed, no further analysis or treatment is needed regarding the ductus arteriosus. A ductus arteriosus is considered to be closed when it can't be visualized using color Doppler imaging or when the transductal diameter measures less than 0.5 mm. When the ductus arteriosus hasn't closed, a second course of COX-inhibition is started at least 24 hours after the third dose of the first course. COXi dosages are similar to the first course. Twelve to 24 hours after the last dose of the second course (6th gift) echocardiography is performed. If the ductus arteriosus is found to be closed, no further analysis or treatment is needed regarding the ductus arteriosus. When the duct failed to close after two courses of COXi (6 doses in total) and the PDA is judged to be still hemodynamically significant, ductal ligation can be considered, only when the so-called 'ligation criteria' are met. Expectative PDA management arm Patients randomized to the expectative management arm will not receive any COXi and PDA management in this group can be characterized as "watchful waiting". This is not a unique approach, since a restrictive approach towards a PDA is increasingly used in many centers worldwide without the observation of an increased risk of neonatal mortality and morbidity, such as severe chronic lung disease (CLD), intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), NEC and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). It is essential that neonatal management is similar in both study arms with the exception of the prescription of COXi and echocardiography at the end of the drug course in the medical treatment arm. It is of the upmost importance that NO extra interventions are to be undertaken with the intention to conservatively prevent or treat a (suspected) PDA in the expectative arm, such as fluid restriction and diuretics for that reason. Moreover, it should be noted that there is insufficient evidence that fluid restriction and/or diuretics are of any benefit in patients with a (suspected) PDA. When during the first week the attending physician is of the opinion that the patient is in danger, when it's deprived from treatment with COXi, open label treatment can only be considered when the 'open label criteria' are met.