Objectives: To investigate the value of targeted neonatal echocardiography (TnECHO) in predicting cardiorespiratory instability after patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) ligation, and to evaluate the impact of TnECHO-directed care.
Study design: We reviewed serial echocardiography evaluations of 62 preterm infants after PDA ligation to investigate the relationship between indices of myocardial performance and postoperative cardiorespiratory instability. A predictive model was developed based on TnECHO criteria, with targeted initiation of intravenous milrinone. A comparative evaluation was performed between matched infants in the previous era (epoch 1; n=25) and current era (epoch 2; n=27) of TnECHO-guided treatment.
Results: Left ventricular output <200 mL/kg/min at 1 hour after PDA ligation was a sensitive predictor of systemic hypotension and the need for inotropes, and was used for initiation of i.v. milrinone infusion in epoch 2. Infants treated with milrinone had a lower incidence of ventilation failure (15% vs 48%; P=.02) and less need for inotropes (19% vs 56%; P=.01), and showed a trend toward improved oxygenation (P=.08).
Conclusion: TnECHO facilitates early detection of infants at greatest risk for subsequent cardiorespiratory deterioration. Administration of milrinone to neonates with low cardiac output may lead to improved postoperative stability.
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