Affiliations: [a]
Department of Pediatrics, University of Western Ontario, Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, London, ON, Canada
| [b]
University of Alberta, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Correspondence:
[*]
Address for correspondence: Renjini Lalitha, The Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, London Health Sciences Centre, 800 Commissioners Road East, London, ON, N6A 5W9, Canada. Tel.: +1 519 685 8500/ Ext. 64108; Fax: +1 519 646 6123; E-mail: [email protected].
Abstract: Optimal fluid management of preterm babies with suspected or confirmed diagnosis of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is frequently challenging for neonatal care physician because of paucity of clinical trials. There is wide variation in practice across neonatal units, resulting in significant impact on outcomes in Extremely Low Birth Weight (ELBW) babies with hemodynamically significant PDA. A delicate balance is required in fluid management to reduce mortality and morbidity in this population. The purpose of this review is to lay out the current understanding about fluid and electrolyte management in ELBW babies with hemodynamically significant PDA and highlight areas for future research.