[Indomethacin in IRDS with PDA phenomenon (author's transl)].

16 premature babies (all needing artificial ventilation, 15 suffering from idiopathic respiratory distress syndrome and one from severe apneic spells) received a single or double dose of indomethacin once the symptoms of an open ductus arteriosus further complicated their disease. Within 24 hours four patients showed closure of their duct, three other patients a very distinct improvement of their hemodynamic situation. There was no change of the ductus dependent symptoms in 8 other babies. One baby presented with a marked a worsening of its clinical situation and finally required surgical closure of its duct. There is quite a discrepancy found in the results reported from different centers. Starting from our results possible reasons for this discrepancy are discussed.