Indomethacin versus immediate ligation in the treatment of 82 newborns with patent ductus arteriosus.

In the past 10 years, echocardiography and prostaglandin inhibition have changed the management of the patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in newborns with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). To judge the results of our present management for morbidity and survival, we analyzed data retrospectively on 82 newborns who were treated from 1977 to 1983 for PDA. We compared their hospital courses and outcomes with a similar group of 45 infants reported by us 10 years ago who were treated by early ductal ligation. The 82 recent patients were divided into two groups, A and B. Group A, 62 consecutive newborns with PDA, was treated primarily with indomethacin. A subsequent group of 20 newborns was treated for PDA primarily with early ductal ligation, group B. There was a 67.8% survival in group A versus 66.7% in the original group of patients 10 years ago--no significant improvement in survival in recent patients using indomethacin. Group B, with early ductal ligation similar to the original patients, had a survival rate of 75%. We identified a group of high-risk infants under 1500 grams with severe RDS whose prognoses varied significantly, depending on the treatment. In the original patients 10 years ago, 41.2% of newborns under 1500 grams with severe RDS survived; 33.3% survived in group A whereas, 71.4% survived in group B. In this high-risk group, treatment for PDA with indomethacin had the worst prognosis, and treatment with ductal ligation combined with modern supportive measures had the best prognosis.