Antepartum vitamin K and phenobarbital for preventing intraventricular hemorrhage in the premature newborn: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

• Published in: Obstetrics and gynecology (New York. 1953) Vol. 83; no. 1; p. 70
• Main Authors: Thorp, J A, Parriott, J, Ferrette-Smith, D, Meyer, B A, Cohen, G R, Johnson, J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.01.1994
• Subjects: Cerebral Hemorrhage - epidemiology; Cerebral Hemorrhage - prevention & control; Double-Blind Method; Female; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Premature, Diseases - blood; Infant, Premature, Diseases - epidemiology; Infant, Premature, Diseases - prevention & control; Phenobarbital - therapeutic use; Pregnancy; Prenatal Care - methods; Vitamin K - therapeutic use
• ISSN: 0029-7844

To determine whether antepartum phenobarbital and vitamin K reduce the risk of intraventricular hemorrhage in premature newborns. Patients at imminent risk for spontaneous or indicated premature delivery between 24-34 weeks' gestation were randomized to receive either placebo or vitamin K and phenobarbital. All patients received betamethasone and antibiotics and were managed uniformly by a single perinatal group in one hospital. All newborns were managed uniformly in the same facility by a single neonatal group. There was a nonsignificant reduction in all grades of intraventricular hemorrhage in the treatment group when compared to the placebo group (48.2 versus 38.3%; P > .05). Frequencies were reduced for severe intraventricular hemorrhage (grades 3 and 4) (6.0 versus 2.5%; P > .05) and mild intraventricular hemorrhage (grades 1 and 2) (42.2 versus 35.8%; P > .05). Antepartum phenobarbital and vitamin K effected a nonsignificant reduction in both mild and severe intraventricular hemorrhage. The incidence of severe intraventricular hemorrhage in our control group was significantly less than that observed in previous studies.