Continuous indomethacin infusion may be less effective than bolus infusions for ductal closure in very low birth weight infants.

The effectiveness of continuous indomethacin (INDO) infusion versus bolus infusions for closure of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) was investigated. The study design was an open-label case series (continuous INDO) with historic controls matched for gestational age (bolus INDO). Ductal closure rates were determined in two groups: 16 preterm infants with PDA treated with continuous INDO infusion (CONTIN group) and 16 control patients, matched for gestational age, who received bolus INDO infusions (BOLUS group).