Renal response to frusemide in preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome during the first three postnatal days

Diuretics for respiratory distress syndrome in preterm infants

BACKGROUND

Lung edema may complicate respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in preterm infants.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this review was to assess the risks and benefits of diuretic administration in preterm infants with RDS.

SEARCH METHODS

The standard search method of the Cochrane Neonatal Review Group was used. The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL, The Cochrane Library), MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched. These searches were updated in April 2003, March 2007, January 2011. In addition, the abstract books of the American Thoracic Society and Society for Pediatric Research were searched. MEDLINE and CENTRAL search was conducted using the keyword "Respiratory Distress Syndrome" alone, to find studies of medications recently classified as diuretics, such as theophylline. In addition, EMBASE, controlled-trials.com and clinicaltrials.gov searches were completed in January 2011. MEDLINE search updated to August 2011.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Trials were included in which preterm infants with RDS and less than five days of age were randomly allocated to diuretic administration. Of those trials, studies were only included in which at least one of the following outcomes measures was evaluated: mortality, patent ductus arteriosus, hypovolemic shock, intraventricular hemorrhage, renal failure, duration of oxygen supplementation, duration of mechanical ventilation, need for oxygen supplementation at 28 days of life, oxygen supplementation at 36 weeks of postmenstrual age (gestational age + postnatal age), length of stay, number of rehospitalizations during the first year of life, and neurodevelopmental outcome.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

The standard method for the Cochrane Collaboration, which is described in the Cochrane Collaboration Handbook, was used. Two investigators extracted, assessed and coded separately all data for each study. Any disagreement was resolved by discussion.

MAIN RESULTS

Seven studies met inclusion criteria. Six studies using furosemide were done before the current era of prenatal steroids, surfactant and fluid restriction. Furosemide administration had no long-term benefits. Furosemide-induced transient improvement in pulmonary function did not outweigh an increased risk for patent ductus arteriosus and for hemodynamic instability. In one recent study, theophylline had no long-term benefits. Theophylline significantly decreased the risk of oligoanuria and transiently increased renal function, but did not significantly affect renal function at discharge or other outcomes.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

There are no data to support routine administration of furosemide in preterm infants with RDS. Elective administration of furosemide to any patient with RDS should be carefully weighed against the risk of precipitating hypovolemia or developing a symptomatic patent ductus arteriosus. There are not enough data to support routine administration of low-dose theophylline in preterm infants with RDS.

Diuretics for respiratory distress syndrome in preterm infants

BACKGROUND

Lung edema may complicate respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in preterm infants.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this review was to assess the risks and benefits of diuretic administration in preterm infants with RDS.

SEARCH STRATEGY

The standard search method of the Cochrane Neonatal Review Group was used. MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL, The Cochrane Library) were searched using the following keywords: <exp respiratory distress syndrome> and <exp diuretics>. These searches were updated in April 2003 and March 2007. In addition, the abstract books of the American Thoracic Society and Society for Pediatric Research were searched. A MEDLINE and CENTRAL search was conducted in March 2007 using the keyword "Respiratory Distress Syndrome" alone, to make sure to find studies medications recently classified as diuretics, such as theophylline.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Trials were included in which preterm infants with RDS and less than 5 days of age were randomly allocated to diuretic administration. Of those trials, studies were only included in which at least one of the following outcomes measures was evaluated: mortality, patent ductus arteriosus, hypovolemic shock, intraventricular hemorrhage, renal failure, duration of oxygen supplementation, duration of mechanical ventilation, need for oxygen supplementation at 28 days of life, oxygen supplementation at 36 weeks of postmenstrual age (gestational age + postnatal age), length of stay, number of rehospitalizations during the first year of life, and neurodevelopmental outcome.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

The standard method for the Cochrane Collaboration, which is described in the Cochrane Collaboration Handbook, was used. Two investigators extracted, assessed and coded separately all data for each study. Any disagreement was resolved by discussion.

MAIN RESULTS

Seven studies met inclusion criteria. Six studies using furosemide were done before the current era of prenatal steroids, surfactant and fluid restriction. Furosemide administration had no long-term benefits. Furosemide-induced transient improvement in pulmonary function did not outweigh an increased risk for patent ductus arteriosus and for hemodynamic instability. In one recent study, theophylline had no long-term benefits. Theophylline significantly decreased the risk of oligoanuria and transiently increased renal function, but did not significantly affect renal function at discharge or other outcomes.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

There are no data to support routine administration of furosemide in preterm infants with RDS. Elective administration of furosemide to any patient with RDS should be carefully weighed against the risk of precipitating hypovolemia or developing a symptomatic patent ductus arteriosus. There are not enough data to support routine administration of low-dose theophylline in preterm infants with RDS.

Diurétiques et prématuré

Diuretics are frequently used in preterm infants in various situations such as patent ductus arteriosus, respiratory distress syndrome, bronchopulmonary dysplasia or neonatal renal insufficiency. However, the beneficial effects reported in the literature are usually transient, without any obvious effect on important parameters such as duration of oxygen dependency, ventilator dependency, length of hospital stay, long-term outcome, or mortality. Moreover, these drugs may induce water-electrolyte disorders especially when used for a long-term period. Thus, we recommend a systematic analysis of the beneficial/risk ratio before any use of these drugs.

Efficacy of albuterol inhalation in treatment of hyperkalemia in premature neonates

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the efficacy of inhaled albuterol for treatment of hyperkalemia in premature neonates by conducting a prospective, randomized placebo-controlled and double-blinded clinical trial.

STUDY DESIGN

Neonates <2000 g receiving mechanical ventilation with central serum potassium > or =6.0 mmol/L (6.0 mEq/L), were randomly assigned to treatment or placebo groups. Albuterol (400 microg) or saline was given by nebulization. The dose was repeated every 2 hours until the potassium level fell below 5 mmol/L (maximum 12 doses) or there were signs of toxicity.

RESULTS

Nineteen patients completed the study (8 in the albuterol and 11 in the saline group). Serum potassium levels declined rapidly in the first 4 hours in the albuterol group, from 7.06 +/- 0.23 mmol/L to 6.34 +/- 0.24 mmol/L (P =.003) versus no significant change in the saline group (6.88 +/- 0.18 mmol/L to 6.85 +/- 0.24 mmol/L; P =.87). At 8 hours, the fall continued to be greater in the albuterol group versus the saline group (5.93 +/- 0.3 mmol/L and 6.35 +/- 0.22 mmol/L, respectively; P =.04).

CONCLUSION

Albuterol inhalation may be useful in rapidly lowering serum potassium levels in premature neonates.

Diuretics for respiratory distress syndrome in preterm infants

BACKGROUND

Lung edema may complicate respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in preterm infants.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this review was to assess the risks and benefits of diuretic administration in preterm infants with RDS.

SEARCH STRATEGY

We used the standard search method of the Cochrane Neonatal Review Group. We searched Medline, Embase and the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register from the Cochrane Library, using the following keywords: <exp respiratory distress syndrome> and <exp diuretics>. In addition, we searched the abstract books of the American Thoracic Society and Pediatric Research Societies.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We only included trials in which preterm infants with RDS and less than 5 days of age were randomly allocated to diuretic administration. Of those trials, we only included studies in which at least one of the following outcomes measures was evaluated: mortality, patent ductus arteriosus, hypovolemic shock, intraventricular hemorrhage, renal failure, duration of oxygen supplementation, duration of mechanical ventilation, need for oxygen supplementation at 28 days of life, oxygen supplementation at 36 weeks of postconceptional age (gestational age + postnatal age), length of stay, number of rehospitalizations during the first year of life, and neurodevelopmental outcome.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

We used the standard method for the Cochrane Collaboration which is described in the Cochrane Collaboration Handbook. Two investigators extracted, assessed and coded separately all data for each study. Any disagreement was resolved by discussion.

MAIN RESULTS

Six studies met inclusion criteria. Studies available for this systematic review were all done before the current era of prenatal steroids, surfactant, indomethacin and fluid restriction. Furosemide administration had no long-term benefits. Furosemide-induced transient improvement in pulmonary function did not outweigh an increased risk for patent ductus arteriosus and for hemodynamic instability.

REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS

There are no current data to support routine diuretic administration in preterm infants with RDS. Elective administration of furosemide or any diuretic to any patient with RDS should be carefully weighed against the risk of precipitating hypovolemia. In addition, elective administration of furosemide should be weighed against the risk of developing a symptomatic patent ductus arteriosus.