Extensive use of vasodilator agents and functional echocardiography to monitor extremely-low-birth-weight infants in Japan

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Miyata, M.^{a; *} | Toyoshima, K.^b | Yoda, H.^c | Murase, M.^d | Kawato, H.^e | Yamamoto, K.^f | Tanaka, K.^g | Kotani, M.^h | Kobayashi, M.ⁱ

Affiliations: [a] Department of Pediatrics, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Toyoake, Japan | [b] Department of Neonatology, Kanagawa Children’s Medical Center, Yokohama, Japan | [c] Department of Neonatology, Toho University Omori Medical Center, Tokyo, Japan | [d] Department of Pediatrics, International University of Health and Welfare Hospital, Nasushiobara, Japan | [e] Department of Neonatology, Japanese Red Cross Narita Hospital, Narita, Japan | [f] Department of Pediatrics, Gunma University School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan | [g] Department of Pediatrics, Kumamoto University School of Medicine, Kumamoto, Japan | [h] Department of Neonatology, Japanese Red Cross Kyoto Daiichi Hospital, Kyoto, Japan | [i] Department of Pediatrics, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan

Correspondence: [*] Address for Correspondence: Masafumi Miyata, M.D., Ph. D., Department of Pediatrics, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, 1-98, Dengakugakubo, Kutsukake-cho, Toyoake, Aichi, 4701192, Japan. Tel.: +81 562 93 9251; Fax: +81 562 95 2216; E-mail: m-miata@jc4.so-net.ne.jp.

Abstract: National surveys were conducted in Japan to assess the current practices for circulatory management of extremely-low-birth-weight infants (ELBWIs) in acute phases. Approximately 80 and 100 institutions were surveyed in 2006 and 2011, respectively. Echocardiography was identified as an important diagnostic tool at 95% of the surveyed institutions. Furthermore, 74% of the institutions survey in 2011 used vasodilator agents. In 2011, the mean velocity of circumferential fiber shortening (mVcfc) and left ventricular end-systolic wall stress (ESWS) were used by 60% of the surveyed institutions to evaluate the relationship between afterload of the left ventricle and left ventricular contractility. Overall, the data collected from these national surveys clarified the current practices for circulatory management of ELBWIs in Japan, particularly the use of echocardiography and cardiovascular agents, including catecholamines and vasodilators.

Keywords: Echocardiography, extremely-low-birth-weight infant, circulatory management, vasodilator

DOI: 10.3233/NPM-16915113

Journal: Journal of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, vol. 9, no. 3, pp. 261-269, 2016