421 Diagnostic accuracy of echocardiographic parameters on the third day of life in predicting spontaneous closure of ductus arteriosus in preterm neonates

BackgroundPatent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a common problem in preterm very low birth weight neonates. While PDA is known to have negative impact on neonates, treatment of PDA has its own complications, and not all PDAs need treatment. Therefore, echocardiographic parameters which might help in the management of PDA will be useful for clinicians.ObjectivesTo study diagnostic accuracy of echocardiographic parameters on the third day of life in predicting spontaneous closure of ductus arteriosus in preterm very low birth weight neonatesMethodsA hospital-based cross-sectional descriptive study was performed in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of 550-bedded Children Hospital, Mandalay, over one year period (from January, 2019 to December, 2019). A total of 63 preterm neonates with birth weight ≤1.5 kg and/or gestational age ≤32 weeks, who had patent ductus arteriosus were studied. Gestational age assessment was made by using the New Ballard Scoring System. On the third day of life, echocardiographic measurement of ductal diameter and LA/Ao ratio was done by the neonatologist. The measurements made by the neonatologist were reviewed and corrected if necessary by the pediatric cardiologist. Decision to treat PDA was made by the neonatologist based on the NICU protocol. On the tenth day of life, patent ductus arteriosus was re-assessed echocardiographically.ResultsOn the third day of life, most of the PDAs (67.6%) had ductal diameter