Table 2. Morbidity Arising During the NICU Course, Period of Ductal Patency (Before Surgical Ligation or Medical Closure), and At-Risk Period for Surgical Ligation Among the Infant Cohort (N = 754).
| Morbidity | No. (%) | P Valuea | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surgical Ligation (n = 184) |
Medical Treatment (n = 570) |
|||||||
| Incidence of Morbidity Before Discharge (1) | Incidence of Morbidity Before Ligation, (2) | Incidence of Morbidity Before Discharge (3) | Incidence of Morbidity Before Medical PDA Closure (4) | Incidence of Morbidity Before Medical Closure or DOL 60 (5) | (1) vs (3) | (2) vs (4) | (2) vs (5) | |
| Culture positive sepsis | 131 (71.2) | 91 (49.5) | 270 (47.4) | 172 (30.2) | 168 (29.5) | <.001 | <.001 | <.001 |
| Culture negative sepsis | 107 (58.1) | 92 (50.0) | 255 (44.7) | 225 (39.5) | 225 (39.5) | .001 | .01 | .01 |
| Grade 3/4 IVH | 31 (16.8) | 31 (16.8) | 128 (22.5) | 128 (22.5) | 111 (19.5) | .10 | .10 | .43 |
| Hypotension inotropes | 59 (32.1) | 54 (29.3) | 150 (26.3) | 128 (22.4) | 128 (22.4) | .13 | .06 | .06 |
| NEC, Stage ≥2 | 22 (12.0) | 17 (9.2) | 51 (8.9) | 29 (5.1) | 28 (4.9) | .23 | .04 | .03 |
| Pneumothoraxb | 11 (6.0) | 7 (3.8) | 23 (4.0) | 22 (3.9) | 22 (3.9) | .27 | .97 | .97 |
| Nitric oxide | 9 (4.9) | 6 (3.3) | 32 (5.6) | 27 (4.7) | 27 (4.7) | .71 | .39 | .39 |
| Seizure | 23 (12.5) | 17 (9.2) | 51 (8.9) | 41 (7.2) | 41 (7.2) | .14 | .37 | .37 |
| SIP | 9 (4.9) | 9 (4.9) | 10 (1.7) | 9 (1.6) | 9 (1.6) | .02 | .01 | .01 |
| Dexamethasonec | 31 (16.8) | 8 (4.3) | 37 (6.5) | 12 (2.1) | 12 (2.1) | <.001 | .11 | .11 |
Abbreviations: DOL, day of life; IVH, intraventricular hemorrhage; NEC, necrotizing enterocolitis; NICU, neonatal intensive care unit; PDA, patent ductus arteriosus; SIP, spontaneous intestinal perforation.
a
χ2 test or Fisher exact test.
b
Pneumothorax requiring thoracostomy tube insertion.
c
Systemic dexamethasone administered for the prevention or treatment of chronic lung disease, minimum 5 d course.