A prospective randomized controlled trial was performed to compare the effects of ibuprofen with indomethacin on cerebral hemodynamics measured using near infrared spectroscopy in preterm infants during treatment for patent ductus arteriosus. Infants were randomly assigned to three intravenous doses of either indomethacin (0.20-0.25 mg/kg, 12 hourly) or ibuprofen (5-10 mg/kg, 24 hourly) and also received a dose of saline. The primary end points of the study were the effects of the first dose on cerebral blood flow (CBF) and cerebral blood volume. Fifteen infants received indomethacin and 18 received ibuprofen. The group mean (SD) values for CBF (mL x 100 g(-1) x min(-1)) before and after the first dose of indomethacin were 13.6 (4.1) and 8.3 (3.1), respectively, the change being significant (p<0.001). In contrast, no significant changes in CBF were observed with the first dose of ibuprofen, the respective before and after values being 13.3 (3.2) and 14.9 (4.7) mL x 100 g(-1) x min(-1). The median (interquartile range) value for change in cerebral blood volume (mL/100 g) after the first dose in the indomethacin group was -0.4 (-0.3 to -0.6) and in the ibuprofen group was 0.0 (0.1 to -0.1), the difference between the two groups being significant (p<0.001). Cerebral oxygen delivery changed significantly after the first dose in the indomethacin group but not in the ibuprofen group. Significant reductions in CBF, cerebral blood volume, and cerebral oxygen delivery also occurred after the 24-h dose of indomethacin, but there were no significant changes after the 48-h dose of saline in the indomethacin group or after the 24- and 48-h doses of ibuprofen. The patent ductus arteriosus closure rates after indomethacin and ibuprofen were 93 and 78%, respectively. We conclude that ibuprofen, unlike indomethacin, has no adverse effects on cerebral hemodynamics and appears to mediate patent ductus arteriosus closure.
Cerebral blood flow (CBF) measurement by near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) using oxyhemoglobin (HbO2) as a tracer (CBF-HbO2) needs rapid changes in arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) which often cannot be achieved in many sick infants. An alternative method based on the same adaptation of the Fick principle using i.v. injection of the dye indocyanine green (ICG) is described (CBF-ICG). Six mechanically ventilated infants (age 26-38 wk, birth weight 0.885-3.730 kg) requiring supplementary oxygen therapy were studied within 72 h of birth. For CBF-ICG measurements, ICG (0.1 mg x kg-1 was injected via an umbilical venous catheter, and blood ICG concentration was measured by an optical umbilical artery catheter and brain ICG concentration was measured by NIRS. For CBF-HbO2 measurements the inspired oxygen concentration was rapidly increased, blood HbO2 concentration was calculated from SaO2 measured by pulse oximetry, and brain HbO2 concentration was measured by NIRS. A series of CBF measurements were performed using each method before and after altering the arterial carbon dioxide tension (PaCO2). Mean CBF values from repeated measurements by each method at any given PaCO2 were used to compare the methods. The SD of single measurements within an individual subject by CBF-ICG was 15%, and by CBF-HbO2, 24%. The relationship between the methods was mean CBF-ICG = (1.13 x mean CBF-HbO2) - 2.76 mL x 100 g-1 x min-1 HbO2 (r = 0.93, p < 0.001). The mean difference between the methods (CBF-ICG - CBF-HbO2) was -0.25 mL x 100 g-1 x min-1 (95% confidence interval 6.30 to -6.80). The methods were in good agreement, and the use of i.v. ICG permitted rapid and repeated CBF measurements in the sickest infants at greatest risk of cerebral injury.
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