Open Access

ARTICLE

Practice variation in the management of patent ductus arteriosus in extremely low birth weight infants in the United States: Survey results among cardiologists and neonatologists

by

1 University of Tennessee Health Science Center, LeBonheur Children’s Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
2 Department of Biostatistics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
3 The Lillie Frank Abercrombie Section of Cardiology, Texas Children’s Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas

* Corresponding Author: Shyam Sathanandam, MD, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, LeBonheur Children’s Hospital, 848 Adams Avenue, Memphis, TN 38103. Email:

Congenital Heart Disease 2019, 14(1), 6-14. https://doi.org/10.1111/chd.12729

Abstract

Background: Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is highly prevalent in extremely low birth weight (ELBW), preterm infants. There are diverse management approaches for the PDA in ELBW infants. The objectives of this research were to identify current PDA management practices among cardiologists and neonatologists in the United States, describe any significant differences in management, and describe areas where practices align.
Methods: A survey of 10 questions based on the management of PDA in ELBW infants was conducted among 100 prominent neonatologists from 74 centers and 103 prominent cardiologists from 75 centers. Among the cardiologists, approximately 50% were interventionists who perform transcatheter PDA closures (TCPC). Fisher’s exact test was performed to compare practice variations among neonatologists and cardiologists. A potentially biased audience including a combination of health care providers belonging to cardiology, neonatology, and surgery were also surveyed during the International PDA Symposium. The results of this survey were not included for statistical comparison, due to this audience being potentially influenced by the Symposium.
Results: Statistically significant differences were identified between neonatologists and cardiologists regarding the impact of PDA closure on morbidity and mortality, with 80% cardiologists responding that it does vs 54% of neonatologists (P < .001), the need for PDA closure (P < .001), and the preferred method of PDA closure if indicated (P < .001). There was agreement between neonatologists and cardiologists on symptomatic therapy; however more neonatologists favored watchful waiting over intervention in contrast to more cardiologists favoring intervention over observation (77% vs 95%, P < .001). Survey responses also identified a need for further training and research on TCPC.
Conclusion: Neonatologists and cardiologists have notable differences in managing PDA, and continued discussion across cardiology and neonatology has the potential to facilitate more of a consensus on best management practices. Further investigation is needed to identify outcomes in transcatheter PDA closure, particularly in ELBW infants.

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