Anales españoles de pediatría
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Sixty-four preterm infants (birth weight 1,393 +/- 483 g g and gestational age 30.1 +/- 2.7 weeks) developed a symptomatic ductus arteriosus, and were treated with intravenous indomethacin. Mechanical ventilation was needed by all of them, and 98% had IRDS. Pharmacologic ductus closure rate was 87%. ⋯ Closure rate was higher in this group of patients treated with intravenous indomethacin, than in a previous group of a similar birth weight and gestational age, who received the drug by oral route (87% versus 64%). Incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis was found to be similar in both groups. Follow-up data showed that four infants (8.5%) had severe neurological sequelae, and another three cases (6.4%) developed severe respiratory problems.