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Background and Objective: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents are the treatment of choice for ductal
closure in premature newborn. This study evaluates early and late outcome, as well as the effectiveness of oral
ibuprofen in the treatment of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in premature infants.
Methods: In this clinical trial, all preterm infants below 37 weeks, with documentation of PDA were enrolled
Infants were divided into two groups. The case group (19 patients) was treated with three doses of oral
ibuprofen. Control group (19 patients) were under restriction of fluids (serum level of ⅔ maintenance). The rate
of ductal closure, presence of pulmonary hypertension were determined at the age of one week, one month, 3
months and 6 months and intraventricular hemorrhage and periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) were detected at
the age of one week and one month. The presence of retinopathy was checked at the time of hospital discharge
and at the age of one month.
Results: Ductal closure was achieved in all newborn of the ibuprofen group whereas in control group ductal
closure rate was 16.19 (84.2%) (p=0.23). No case of pulmonary hypertension, PVL or retinopathy was observed
in oral ibuprofen group. Regarding to other criteria such as hospital stay, intraventricular hemorrhage, sepsis,
ventilator time dependence, pulmonary hemorrhage and mortality rate, no significant difference between the two
groups was observed.
Conclusions: Oral ibuprofen suspension may be an effective and safe alternative for PDA closure in premature
infants. However larger studies are warranted.

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Background and Objective: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents are the treatment of choice for ductal closure in premature newborn.This study was conducted to determine early and late outcome, as well as the effectiveness of oral ibuprofen in the treatment of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in premature infants.

Methods:  In this clinical trial, all preterm infants below 37 weeks, with documentation of PDA were enrolled. Infants were divided into two groups.The case group (19 patients) was treated with three doses of oral ibuprofen. Control group (19 patients) were under restriction of fluids (serum level of ⅔ maintenance).

The rate of ductal closure, presence of pulmonary hypertension were determined at the age of one week, one month ,3 months and 6 months  and  intraventricular hemorrhage and periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) were detected at the age of one week and one month. The presence of retinopathy was checked at the time of hospital discharge and at the age of one month.

Results: Ductal closure was achieved in all newborn of the ibuprofen group whereas in control group ductal closure rate was16/19(84.2%). (p=0.23) No case of pulmonary hypertension, PVL or retinopathy was observed in oral ibuprofen group. Regarding to other criteria such as hospital stay, intraventricular hemorrhage, sepsis, ventilator time dependence, pulmonary hemorrhage and mortality rate, no significant difference between the two groups was observed.

Conclusions: Oral ibuprofen suspension may be an effective and safe alternative for PDA closure in premature infants. However larger studies are warranted.

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Introduction: The purpose of this study was to compare the topical effect of breast milk, chlorhexidine, and dry cord care on the umbilical cord bacterial colonization in premature infants hospitalized in a neonatal intensive care unit.
Methodology: This randomized controlled double-blinded trial was performed on premature infants admitted to the NICU of Valiasr Hospital, Birjand in 2016.  The infants were allocated to one of the three study groups of breast milk, chlorhexidine, dry cord care. The data were analyzed using the SPSS (v.21.0) at the level of p-value≤0.05.
Results: 25 infants were included in each group matched for gender, type of delivery, birth weight, and gestational age. The density (p<0.001) and the number p<0.05) of bacterial colonization reduced after intervention in all groups, significantly. However, the was no difference between the groups.
Conclusion: The results of this study indicated the effect of the three procedures of dry cord care, application of chlorhexidine, as well as use of breast milk in the control of the umbilical cord bacterial colonization in preterm infants, although no difference was reported between the study groups.