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April/May 2001, Volume 21, Number 3, Pages 156-160 |
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Original Article |
Focal Small Bowel Perforation: An Adverse Effect of Early Postnatal Dexamethasone Therapy in Extremely Low Birth Weight Infants |
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| Phillip V Gordon MD, PhD1, Mary L Young MS2 and Diane D Marshall MD, MPH1 |
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1Department of Pediatrics (P. V. G., D. D. M.), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
2Department of Biostatistics (M. L. Y.), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
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Correspondence to: Diane D. Marshall, MD MPH, CB# 7596, 4th floor, UNC Hospitals, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7596
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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. Journal of Perinatology 2001; 21:156-160. |
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Received 15 June 2000; accepted 2 January 2001 |
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April/May 2001, Volume 21, Number 3, Pages 156-160 |
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