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[Serious adverse side effects after pupillary dilation in preterm infants]
A-L Lux1, F Mouriaux2, B Guillois1
1CHU de Caen, avenue de la Côte-de-Nacre, 14000 Caen cedex, France.
Journal Francais D'Ophtalmologie
|March 2, 2015
Summary
The pupillary dilation protocol for retinopathy of prematurity screening may be linked to two necrotizing enterocolitis cases. Phenylephrine 5% eye drops showed no serious side effects in this study.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Neonatology
- Pharmacology
Context:
- Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) screening is crucial for premature infants.
- Pupillary dilation is essential for ROP screening via fundus examination.
- Standardized protocols aim to balance efficacy and safety.
Purpose:
- To investigate serious adverse events associated with a specific pupillary dilation protocol.
- To assess the safety of phenylephrine 5% and tropicamide 0.5% eye drops in premature infants.
- To determine the potential link between the dilation protocol and severe infant morbidities.
Summary:
- A retrospective study reviewed 512 premature infants (birth weight ≤1500g or gestational age ≤30 weeks) undergoing ROP screening.
- No deaths were attributed to the pupillary dilation eye drops.
- Two cases of necrotizing enterocolitis were possibly linked to tropicamide 0.5%, with uncertain imputability.
Impact:
- The findings suggest a potential, though uncertain, association between tropicamide 0.5% and necrotizing enterocolitis in premature infants.
- Phenylephrine 5% eye drops were found to be safe in this cohort.
- This study informs clinical practice regarding the safety of ROP screening protocols.
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