Expectant Management or Early Ibuprofen for Patent Ductus Arteriosus

A multi-center non-inferiority trial compared preterm infants treated with expectant management versus early ibuprofen for PDA

The trial enrolled 273 infants total

136 infants were treated with expectant management and 137 with early ibuprofen

In the expectant management group, 17.6% developed necrotizing enterocolitis

In the expectant management group, 33% developed bronchopulmonary dysplasia

In the expectant management group, the death rate was 14%

In the ibuprofen group, 15.4% developed necrotizing enterocolitis

In the ibuprofen group, 50% developed bronchopulmonary dysplasia

In the ibuprofen group, the death rate was 80%

Expectant management is non-inferior to early ibuprofen in preterm patients with PDA