Pediatrics
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Clonidine as an adjunct therapy to opioids for neonatal abstinence syndrome: a randomized, controlled trial.
To determine if oral clonidine would reduce the duration of opioid detoxification for neonatal abstinence syndrome. ⋯ In this randomized, double-blind trial, adding clonidine to standard opioid therapy for detoxification from in utero exposure to methadone or heroin reduced the duration of pharmacotherapy for neonatal abstinence without causing short-term adverse cardiovascular outcomes. A larger trial is indicated to determine long-term safety.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
Early systemic hypotension and vasopressor support in low birth weight infants: impact on neurodevelopment.
The duration and severity of systemic hypotension have been related with altered neurodevelopment. Cerebral circulation is pressure-passive in low birth weight infants with early systemic hypotension who receive cardiovascular support. The treatment of early systemic hypotension is controversial, because it has been associated with short-term and long-term morbidity in retrospective studies. However, there has been no prospective information on cardiovascular support for hypotension and morbidity. ⋯ Cautious use of cardiovascular support to treat early systemic hypotension in low birth weight infants seems to be safe. The question of whether raising systemic blood pressure to within a normal range will improve outcome should be examined by using appropriate study designs.