Reduced Hospital Mortality With Surgical Ligation of Patent Ductus Arteriosus in Premature, Extremely Low Birth Weight Infants: A Propensity Score-matched Outcome Study.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate outcomes after surgical ligation (SL) of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in premature, extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants.

BACKGROUND

Optimal management of PDA in this specialized population remains undefined. Currently, surgical therapy is largely reserved for infants failing medical management. To date, a large-scale, risk-matched population-based study has not been performed to evaluate differences in mortality and resource utilization.

METHODS

Data on identified premature (<37 weeks) and ELBW (<1000  g) infants with PDA (International Classification of Diseases, 9th revision, Clinical Modification, 747.0) and respiratory distress (769) were obtained from Kids' Inpatient Database (2003-2009).

RESULTS

Overall, 12,470 cases were identified, with 3008 undergoing SL. Propensity score-matched analysis of 1620 SL versus 1584 non-SL found reduced mortality (15% vs 26%) and more routine disposition (48% vs 41%) for SL (P < 0.001). SL had longer length of stay and higher total cost (P < 0.001). On multivariate analysis, SL mortality predictors were necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC; surgical odds ratio, 5.95; medical odds ratio, 4.42) and sepsis (3.43) (P < 0.006). Length of stay increased with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD; 1.77), whereas total cost increased with surgical NEC (1.82) and sepsis (1.26) (P < 0.04). Non-SL mortality predictors were NEC (surgical, 76.3; medical, 6.17), sepsis (2.66), and intraventricular hemorrhage (1.97) (P < 0.005). Length of stay increased with BPD (2.92) and NEC (surgical, 2.04; medical, 1.28) (P < 0.03). Total cost increased with surgical NEC (2.06), medical NEC (1.57), sepsis (1.43), and BPD (1.30) (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Propensity score-matched analysis demonstrates reduced mortality in premature/ELBW infants with SL for PDA. NEC and sepsis are predictors of mortality and resource utilization.