Exploring the Antecedents of Neonatal Bowel Perforation

Background: Spontaneous intestinal perforation (SIP) occurs in 3-8% of preterm neonates before they reach two weeks of age. Early, concurrent neonatal use of Indocin and Hydrocortisone is a known association of SIP. Mothers in premature labor often receive Indocin as a tocolytic therapy for early labor. Mothers also receive steroids for the maturation of the fetus before delivery. There is limited data on combined exposures to these medications shortly before birth, and subsequently, in early postnatal life on the effect, these may have on SIP in the infant. Methods: A retrospective review of neonates admitted to a Level III NICU with a birth gestational age .10). All other confounding medications evaluated did not show an association for SIP (see table 2).Conclusion: Close temporal exposure of antenatal Indocin and postnatal HC was associated with an increased risk of SIP. This association was not significant in the subgroup analysis of