Association of Patent Ductus Arteriosus with extubation failure among preterm infants

Backround: Mechanical ventilation is associated with mortality/morbidities in preterm infants. Nearly a third of these infants fail extubation and this may increase morbidities. Objective: To evaluate the association of symptomatic patent ductus arteriosus with failure of extubation among preterm infants. Methods: This was a retrospective study on preterm infants (birth weight <1,250 grams and gestational age ≥23weeks) born between January 2009 and December 2016, who were mechanically ventilated and extubated within the first 60 days of age. Results: 360 infants were evaluated, of these, 26% failed and 74% succeeded the initial extubation attempt. On adjusted analysis, symptomatic ductus was associated with an increased risk of extubation failure. Conclusion(s): Presence of symptomatic patent ductus arteriosus was associated with extubation failure. Further investigations are needed to establish whether screening for presence of ductus and treatment of the same, prior to extubation among these infants, improves chances of successful extubation and cardiorespiratory outcomes.