Premature Closure of the Ductus Arteriosus and Veno-Arterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in Critically Ill Neonates: A 10-Year Single-Center Retrospective Study.

To describe critically ill neonates with premature closure of the ductus arteriosus (DA) and assess the frequency as well as predictive factors for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support in the latter. This was a monocentric retrospective observational study conducted in the NICU of a French academic medical center between 01/01/2013 and 01/01/2023. All neonates diagnosed with premature closure of the DA were included. Exclusion criteria were associated congenital heart disease amenable to urgent surgery or contraindication for ECMO. Eleven neonates with complete premature closure of the DA were included. Births were full-term with a weight of 3.60 kg [3.16-3.89]. Only one case (9%) was diagnosed antenatally. Premature closure of the DA was idiopathic in seven neonates (64%) and associated to maternal exposure to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in three (27%). All newborns had pulmonary hypertension (PH) and right ventricular hypertrophy. Three neonates (27%) were supported on veno-arterial ECMO and appeared to have more pathological adaptation to extra-uterine life, greater need for vasopressor and/or inotropic support, and higher frequency of bi-ventricular failure (100%) or morphological anomaly of the tricuspid valve (67%). No patient died but more than half had non-cardiological sequelae. Veno-arterial ECMO support is not uncommon in critically ill neonates with premature DA closure and appeared to be associated with more pathological adaptation to extra-uterine life, greater need for vasoactive-inotropic support and higher frequency of bi-ventricular failure or morphological anomaly of the tricuspid valve. These parameters can help clinicians to identify neonates likely to require such an assistance.