Meta-analysis of phenobarbital usage for prevention of intraventricular hemorrhage in premature infants: factors related to variation in outcome

To assess the efficacy of phenobarbital for the prevention of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) in premature infants and to identify study characteristics that were associated with beneficial or adverse effects. Studies published from 1981 to 1994 were identified through a computerized search, and b...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inClinical trials and meta-analysis Vol. 29; no. 2-3; p. 177
Main Authors Tholl, D A, Miller, T Q, Henderson, W G, Myers, T F
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Netherlands 01.10.1994
Subjects
Birth Weight
Cerebral Hemorrhage - prevention & control
Cerebral Ventricles
Double-Blind Method
Female
Gestational Age
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Infant, Premature
Infant, Premature, Diseases - prevention & control
Maternal-Fetal Exchange
Odds Ratio
Phenobarbital - administration & dosage
Phenobarbital - therapeutic use
Placebos
Pneumothorax - etiology
Positive-Pressure Respiration
Pregnancy
Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
Treatment Outcome
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Summary:To assess the efficacy of phenobarbital for the prevention of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) in premature infants and to identify study characteristics that were associated with beneficial or adverse effects. Studies published from 1981 to 1994 were identified through a computerized search, and by searching the bibliographies of all identified articles. Ten randomized, controlled clinical trials were selected. Data were extracted from each article, including the percentage of patients in the control and treatment groups with IVH, and key patient and study characteristics. Seven studies showed no statistically significant effects, two studies showed a beneficial effect of phenobarbital, and one study showed an adverse effect. The meta-analysis showed no significant difference in the percentage of IVH in treated and untreated infants when treatment effects were combined across all studies. However, prenatal administration of phenobarbital in two studies was associated with a beneficial effect. Overall, we did not find a significant beneficial effect of postnatal phenobarbital administration. The data suggests that prenatal phenobarbital is beneficial. Further evaluations of the efficacy of prenatal phenobarbital are warranted.
ISSN:0927-5401