Decrease in the frequency of treatment for patent ductus arteriosus after implementation of consensus guidelines: a 15-year experience

Background: Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) management varies widely among neonatologists. Local problem: Lack of institution-specific evidence-based guidelines for therapeutic closure of PDA. Methods: Quality improvement project among infants <30 weeks gestational age (GA) designed to determine whether the odds of therapy for closing the PDA, adjusted for GA, decreased after implementing evidence-based guidelines. Intervention: Implementation of guidelines with conservative approach to PDA management. Results: The frequency of PDA treatment decreased from 446/1125 (40%) in Epoch 1 to 96/482 (20%) in Epoch 2. PDA treatment was more frequent in neonates 23–26 weeks GA than those of 27–29 weeks GA (43% vs. 28%, respectively). Among 542 infants receiving indomethacin for PDA, 25% had subsequent ligation; the odds of ligation after indomethacin were lower in neonates 27–29 weeks GA and decreased during Epoch 2. Conclusions: The frequency of medical and surgical treatment for therapeutic closure of PDA decreased after implementing evidence-based treatment guidelines.