Dr . M Terese Verklan
University of Texas Medical Branch USA
Title: Complications of Long-Term Prostaglandin E1 Use in Newborns with Ductal-Dependent Critical Congenital Heart Disease
Biography
Biography: Dr . M Terese Verklan
Abstract
Prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) has been used for decades in the medical treatment of ductal dependent critical congenital heart disease in neonates. We report a retrospective evaluation of the long-term effects of PGE1 in a neonatal intensive care unit in Saudi Arabia. There were 22 subjects with a wide spectrum of cardiac defects maintained on PGE1 for a mean of 38 days (range: 6-200 days). The majority of complications included hypokalemia, hypotension and apnea/bradycardia. Pseudo-Barett syndrome and gastric outlet obstruction were also found. While long-term administration of PGE1 in North America is rare, it is important to be aware of possible adverse effects of fluid and electrolyte imbalance, gastric outlet obstruction and feeding difficulties.