Can tissue oxygen saturation levels in the first 24 hours predict the development of patent ductus arteriosus in premature babies with respiratory distress syndrome?

Abstract

Introduction: Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) causes a substantial increase in morbidities in premature babies by causing changes in organ perfusion. Various echocardiographic parameters are used to diagnose PDA and determine whether it is hemodynamically significant (HsPDA). This study aimed to investigate the role of tissue oxygen saturation in the first 24 hours in predicting HsPDA in high-risk premature babies who received respiratory support because of respiratory distress syndrome. Materials and Methods: In this prospective, observational study, cerebral, renal, and mesenteric regional tissue oxygen saturation levels were monitored by near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) for the first 24 hours of the lives of preterm babies at <= 28 weeks of gestation. The NIRS data of babies with and without HsPDA as diagnosed by echocardiographic examination were compared. Results: Eighty-one premature babies who had HsPDA were included in the study. In the control group 51 premature babies who had not HsPDA were evaluated. The median standard deviation (SD) gestational age of the babies included in the study was 26.9 +/- 1 weeks, and the mean +/- SD birth weight was 880 +/- 218 g. Renal and mesenteric NIRS measurements during follow-up were lower in babies with versus without HsPDA, but the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusion: Low renal and mesenteric stO2 values detected on the first day of life in high-risk infants may be associated with HsPDA. More studies are needed to reveal the effects of HsDPA on organs in these vulnerable babies with NIRS monitoring.