Abstract
Purpose: :
To determine if Idiopathic Ileal Perforation (IIP) is an associated risk factor for the development of advanced stage Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) and progression to threshold disease in premature infants.
Methods: :
A retrospective chart review was conducted on patients in the neonatal intensive care unit of a university hospital. Neonates diagnosed with ROP were identified from March 1, 2006 to December 31, 2007. Patients were identified using institutional screening and treatment records. Data obtained included gestational age, birth weight, stage of ROP at diagnosis, highest stage of ROP attained prior to regression, treatment with laser photocoagulation, and gestational age at IIP diagnosis.
Results: :
123 neonates were identified with ROP. IIP was found to be a comorbid condition in 6.5% of these patients. The average gestational age at IIP diagnosis was 26.6 weeks versus gestational age at diagnosis of ROP was 34.4 weeks. In the patients with IIP, the average highest stage of ROP reached was 2.86 compared with 1.92 in ROP neonates without IIP. This was found to be clinically significant with a p-value of .004. Additionally, 62.5% of patients with ROP and IIP progressed to threshold disease and required laser treatment compared with 20.6% of ROP patients without IIP with a p-value of .017.
Keywords: retinopathy of prematurity