Abstract
Methylxanthines have been used for many years to treat neonatal apnoea in preterm infants. Preliminary evidence suggests they may also have a role in weaning such infants from artificial ventilation (IPPV). This was investigated in a double blind randamised trial giving thecphylline orally to preterm infants (x GA 28.5 weeks), using a loading dose of 5 mg/kg and a maintenance dose of 5 mg/kg/24 hrs in four divided doses. Control infants received a placebo solution which was indistinguishable from the active preparation. Forty infants were entered into the study and the two groups were well matched for gestational and postnatal age, sex, type and place of delivery.
Administration of theophylline caused both a significant improvement in compliance (p< 0.05) six hours after commencing treatment and hastened weaning from IPPV, (p< 0.01) compared to the controls. Its use was not associated with an increased incidence of side-effects, in particular no fits, gastric irritation or fluid and electrolyte inbalance was seen.
We conclude that the use of oral theophylline is a safe and effective method of hastening weaning from IPPV in preterm neonates.
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Greenough, A., Elias-Jones, A., Pool, J. et al. THEOPHYLLINE, SAFELY AND EFFECTIVELY HASTENS WEANING FROM VENTILATION IN PRETERM NEWBORNS. Pediatr Res 19, 1122 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198510000-00297
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198510000-00297