PO-0483Prospective Observational Study Of Doxapram For The Treatment Of Apnea Of Prematurity

• Published in: Archives of disease in childhood 2014-10, Vol.99 (Suppl 2), p.A404-A405
• Main Authors: Winter, J, Bratek, C, Fekker, B, Kidszun, A, Schmidtmann, I, Whybra, C, Mildenberger, E
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0003-9888
• DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2014-307384.1124

Background and aimsAfter the implementation of a local treatment protocol at our NICU, we aimed to systematically evaluate if intubation for apnea of prematurity was avoided by doxapram. We asked, if frequency and severity of apneas were affected and if side effects occurred.MethodsWe prospectively analysed all premature infants < 30 weeks treated according to a standardised protocol during 10/2010 to 04/2013. Doxapram was given only, if otherwise intubation had been necessary. We registered the number of apneas, bradycardias, and desaturations, pCO2 and side effects an hour before, at the start of, and during 48 h after onset of treatment.Results21 of 66 (31.8%) infants (mean gestational age 25.5 weeks, mean birth weight 705 g) were treated during 21/2 years. All of them had been treated with caffeine and CPAP before doxapram was applied. In 13 of 67 (19%) therapy courses, infants were intubated because of persistent apnea during 48 h of doxapram treatment. The frequency of apneas (2.7 vs. 0.2), bradycardias