Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 5, 2025

Author Spotlight: A Non-Intubated Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery with Multimodal Analgesia and Sevoflurane Inhalation Anesthesia
05:39

Author Spotlight: A Non-Intubated Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery with Multimodal Analgesia and Sevoflurane Inhalation Anesthesia

Published on: May 26, 2023

1.8K

Oral versus intravenous paracetamol for patent ductus arteriosus closure in preterm infants

Ayala Gover1,2, Philip T Levy3, Avi Rotschild4,5

  • 1Carmel Medical Center, 7th Michal St., Haifa, Israel. ayalagover@gmail.com.

Pediatric Research
|January 28, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Oral paracetamol is more effective for closing a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in preterm infants than intravenous administration. This finding offers a better approach for PDA closure using paracetamol as a first-line treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Medicine
  • Pharmacology
  • Pediatric Cardiology

Background:

  • Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a common condition in preterm infants.
  • Paracetamol is increasingly used for PDA constriction.
  • The optimal route of administration for paracetamol in PDA treatment is unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the efficacy of oral versus intravenous paracetamol as a first-line treatment for PDA constriction in preterm infants.
  • To evaluate ductal closure rates, treatment duration, and dosage based on administration route.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective study of preterm infants (<37 weeks gestation) from 2012-2020.
  • Compared infants receiving oral or intravenous paracetamol as first-line therapy for PDA.
  • Analyzed PDA closure rates, treatment duration, cumulative dose, PDA characteristics, and serum levels.

Main Results:

  • Oral paracetamol showed a significantly higher closure rate (79%) compared to intravenous paracetamol (40%).
  • This difference remained significant after adjusting for gestational age, treatment length, and postnatal age.
  • Combination therapy or intravenous route resulted in lower closure rates.

Conclusions:

  • Oral administration of paracetamol is more efficacious for constricting the PDA than the intravenous route in preterm infants.
  • The route of administration does not appear to be influenced by gestational age or treatment duration.
  • Findings suggest oral paracetamol as a preferred first-line agent for PDA closure.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Closure of a Patent Foramen Ovale PFO: An Intervention Sequence10:52

Closure of a Patent Foramen Ovale PFO: An Intervention Sequence

Published on: December 23, 2022

3.9K
Hemodynamic Precision in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit using Targeted Neonatal Echocardiography09:31

Hemodynamic Precision in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit using Targeted Neonatal Echocardiography

Published on: January 27, 2023

1.1K

Related Concept Videos

Drug Dosing: Infants and Children01:29

Drug Dosing: Infants and Children

Pediatric patient dosages diverge from adults due to disparities in body surface area, total body water, and extracellular fluid per kilogram of body weight. The dosing regimen considers the variations in pharmacokinetics and pharmacology across distinct age groups, encompassing preterm newborns, infants, young children, older children, and adolescents. Calculation of pediatric patient doses is predicated on determining body surface area, which exhibits a superior correlation with the child's...
21
Parenteral Anesthetics: Overview01:24

Parenteral Anesthetics: Overview

Intravenous anesthetics are drugs administered parenterally to induce anesthesia or sedation. Propofol is a widely used agent formulated as a 1% emulsion in soybean oil, glycerol, and egg phosphatide. It induces rapid anesthesia primarily due to its rapid distribution from the bloodstream to target tissues and is metabolized in the liver. However, it can cause significant pain on injection and hypertriglyceridemia. Fospropofol, a water-based prodrug of propofol, lacks these adverse effects.
256
Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Epidural Anesthesia01:29

Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Epidural Anesthesia

Epidural anesthetics are administered in the fat-filled epidural space, the outermost part of the spinal canal. This technique is commonly employed for pain management and anesthesia during lower abdomen and pelvis surgeries or labor and delivery.
Since epidural anesthetics can be infused through an epidural catheter, all types of drugs, including short-acting ones, can be administered. Chloroprocaine and lidocaine are examples of short and long-duration anesthetics, respectively. Bupivacaine...
517
Drug Delivery: Enteral Route01:18

Drug Delivery: Enteral Route

The enteral drug administration involves three primary routes: oral, sublingual, and buccal. Oral ingestion is the most prevalent, safe, economical, and convenient method for drug administration. However, it has certain drawbacks, including limited absorption due to the drug's low water solubility or poor membrane permeability, possible emesis from GI mucosa irritation, destruction of drugs by digestive enzymes or low gastric pH, and irregular absorption along with food or other drugs.
829
Pharmaceutical Alternatives: Stability-Related Therapeutic Nonequivalence01:22

Pharmaceutical Alternatives: Stability-Related Therapeutic Nonequivalence

Generic intravenous (IV) drugs are considered bioequivalent to their branded counterparts due to their 100% bioavailability upon administration. However, variations in stability among different drug products can significantly influence their therapeutic performance, even if they are pharmaceutically equivalent.Cefuroxime, a prophylactic antimicrobial, is often used as a single-dose IV injection for patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. A 3 g dose typically provides...
11