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Wide range of perioperative drugs and doses used in inguinal hernia repairs for premature infants

Journal of Perinatology volume 41, pages 577–581 (2021)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objective

Characterize the types and doses of commonly administered perioperative drugs in inguinal hernia (IH) repair for premature infants.

Study design

Single-center, retrospective cohort study.

Results

In total, 112 premature infants underwent IH repair between 2010 and 2015. Twenty-one drugs were used during IH repair, with each infant receiving a median seven drugs. Acetaminophen (88%), bupivacaine (84%), cisatracurium (74%), sevoflurane (72%), and propofol (71%) were the most commonly used agents. Thirty-two infants underwent additional procedures with IH repair. Additional procedures were not associated with a higher number of perioperative drugs, however infants with additional procedures were exposed to higher cumulative doses of cisatracurium (p < 0.001) and fentanyl (p = 0.002).

Conclusion

There is wide variability in the drugs and doses used for a common surgical procedure in this population, even within a single center. Future research should focus on the safety and efficacy of the most commonly used perioperative drugs described in this study.

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Fig. 1: Number of perioperative drugs received by premature infants undergoing inguinal hernia (IH) repair alone compared to infants undergoing IH repair and additional procedure(s).
Fig. 2: Cumulative doses of acetaminophen, cisatracurium, fentanyl, and propofol in infants undergoing inguinal hernia (IH) repair alone compared to infants undergoing IH repair and additional procedure(s).

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Funding

NHLBI K24 HL143283.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA

    Christina Dorismond, Peggy P. McNaull, Matthew M. Laughon & Wesley M. Jackson

  2. Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA

    Senyene E. Hunter, Kanecia O. Zimmerman, Daniel K. Benjamin, Rachel G. Greenberg & Kristin M. Corey

Authors
  1. Christina Dorismond
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  2. Senyene E. Hunter
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  3. Peggy P. McNaull
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  4. Kanecia O. Zimmerman
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  5. Daniel K. Benjamin
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  6. Rachel G. Greenberg
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  7. Kristin M. Corey
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  8. Matthew M. Laughon
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  9. Wesley M. Jackson
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Contributions

CD, SEH, RGG, KMC, MML, and WMJ: Conceived and designed the analysis. CD and WMJ: Performed the analysis and wrote the first draft of the manuscript. SEH, PPM, KOZ, DKB, RGG, KMC, MML: Reviewed and made significant edits to the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Wesley M. Jackson.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Dorismond, C., Hunter, S.E., McNaull, P.P. et al. Wide range of perioperative drugs and doses used in inguinal hernia repairs for premature infants. J Perinatol 41, 577–581 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-020-00864-z

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