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Focal Small Bowel Perforation: An Adverse Effect of Early Postnatal Dexamethasone Therapy in Extremely Low Birth Weight Infants

Journal of Perinatology volume 21, pages 156–160 (2001)Cite this article

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:We tested the hypothesis that early postnatal dexamethasone (EPD) increases the risk of focal small bowel perforation (FSBP) in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants.

STUDY DESIGN:The techniques of meta-analysis were applied to studies evaluating EPD, which we identified through a systematic literature search. Studies were included if they were randomized, placebo-controlled trials of EPD, enrolled infants with birth weights ≤1000 g, and reported FSBP as an outcome variable. The Breslow-Day test was used to assess for homogeneity and a summary odds ratio was calculated using the Mantel-Haenszel exact method.

RESULTS:Four studies, with a pooled sample of 1383 infants, were included in the primary analysis. The Breslow-Day test showed a p-value of 0.61, indicating homogeneity among the studies. FSBP was significantly higher in EPD treated infants [odds ratio 1.91, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.21, 3.07; p=0.004].

CONCLUSION:EPD increases the risk of FSBP in ELBW infants.

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Acknowledgements

We are indebted to Sandra Woolson and Gary Koch, PhD, from the Department of Biostatistics at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for their technical assistance and to Carl Bose, MD, and Sarabeth Thomas, MS, for review of our manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics (P. V. G., D. D. M.), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC

    Phillip V Gordon MD, PhD & Diane D Marshall MD, MPH

  2. Department of Biostatistics (M. L. Y.), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC

    Mary L Young MS

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Gordon, P., Young, M. & Marshall, D. Focal Small Bowel Perforation: An Adverse Effect of Early Postnatal Dexamethasone Therapy in Extremely Low Birth Weight Infants. J Perinatol 21, 156–160 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jp.7200520

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