Abstract 87

Aim: To investigate the efficacy of DXM in the treatment of severe arterial hypotension of preterm infants.

Subjects: 20 new-born infants with arterial hypotension who did not respond to 3 attempts of volume expansion (10-15 ml red blood cells or colloids per kg body weight in 15 min.) followed by dopamine infusion stepwise increased up to 15µg/kg min and finally received epinephrine infusion.

Intervention: Administration of 0.25 mg DXM/kg when the epinephrine infusion was started.

Primary outcome measurement: Duration of the epinephrine infusion.

Calculated sample size: 20 infants, α=0.05, β=0.1, one-sided hypothesis.

Results: 8 infants were allocated to DXM (median birthweight 698g (450-2650), gestational age 27 weeks (26-36), age at intervention 2d(1-20), 9 to the control group (680 (450-1060), 28 (25-29), 4 (1-20), 3 infants were excluded retrospectively for protocol violation. The blood pressure increased 3-7 hours after the administration of DXM. The epinephrine infusion was stopped within 12 hours in 5/8 infants with DXM but only in 1/9 infant of the control group (p=0.023).

Conclusion: 0.25 mg/kg DXM was found to be an effective treatment of severe arterial hypotension in preterm infants who not responded to volume expansion and dopamine infusion.