ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Evaluate spontaneous intestinal perforation (SIP)/death among extremely low birthweight (ELBW) infants before, during and after initiation of an antenatal magnesium for neuroprotection protocol (MgPro). STUDY DESIGN: We tested associations between SIP/death and magnesium exposure, gestational age (GA) and interactions with GA and magnesium exposure in a cohort of inborn ELBW infants before, during and after MgPro. RESULT: One hundred and fifty-five ELBW infants were included, 81 before, 23 during and 51 after MgPro. ELBW infants (78.3%) were exposed to Mg during MgPro compared with 50.6% and 60.8% before and after, respectively. Incidence of SIP on protocol was 30.4% vs 12.9% off protocol (P=0.03). GA was strongly associated with SIP (P<0.01). Antenatal Mg dose was also associated with SIP/death regardless of epoch (odds ratio 9.3 (1.04-104.6)), but increased SIP/death was limited to those <25 weeks gestation. CONCLUSION: Higher Mg dose was associated with higher SIP and death risk among infants with the lowest birthweights. Validation of this observation in larger populations is warranted.