Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39044109›Full record

SynthesisWorld journal of pediatrics : WJP2024

Intervention at an early threshold for post-hemorrhagic ventricular dilatation in preterm infants: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Patrick Blundell, Lloyd Abood, Mallinath Chakraborty, Sujoy Banerjee

Abstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in World journal of pediatrics : WJP, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Patrick BlundellRegional Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, UK.
Lloyd AboodNeonatal Unit, Singleton Hospital, Swansea, SA2 8QA, UK.
Mallinath ChakrabortyRegional Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, UK.
Sujoy BanerjeeNeonatal Unit, Singleton Hospital, Swansea, SA2 8QA, UK. sujoy.banerjee@wales.nhs.uk.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundVery few adequately powered studies exploring early thresholds for intervention in the management of post-hemorrhagic ventricular dilatation (PHVD) in preterm infants have identified consistent neurodevelopmental advantages at 12-30 months. We aimed to conduct a meta-analysis on the efficacy and safety of early versus conservative thresholds for intervention, primarily aimed at normalizing cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure, in the management of PHVD in preterm infants.

methodsMultiple databases were searched for eligible papers, and prospective randomized trials involving preterm infants were selected. The results are expressed as relative risks (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The main outcome was survival without moderate-to-severe neurodevelopmental impairment at 12-30 months.

resultsTen articles representing seven randomized trials comparing early versus conservative thresholds for interventions were included. Five trials (n = 545 infants) reported no difference in the main outcome between early and conservative groups [RR 0.99 (0.71, 1.37)]. Sensitivity analysis excluding data from a medication trial did not alter the main outcome [RR 1.15 (0.95, 1.39)]. Infants in the early threshold group received significantly more interventions [RR 1.48 (1.05, 2.09)]. Deaths before discharge/during the initial study period [RR 1.04 (0.70, 1.54)] or a composite of death or shunt insertion [RR 1.04 (0.86, 1.27)] were comparable between the two groups.

conclusionsEarly intervention for PHVD, before a clinical or ultrasound threshold is met, leads to additional clinical procedures but does not improve survival without moderate-severe neurodevelopmental impairment at 12-30 months. Caution should be exercised in interpreting these results due to significant variation between the studies. Supplementary file 3 (MP4 131172 kb).

Indexed as

Cerebral VentriclesInfant, PrematureCerebral HemorrhageDilatation, PathologicEarly Medical InterventionHumansInfant, NewbornInfant, Premature, DiseasesHydrocephalusIntraventricular hemorrhageLumbar punctureMortalityNeurodevelopmentPreterm infants

Identifiers

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.