Antenatal Phenobarbitone in Preventing Intraventricular Haemorrhage and Neonatal Convulsions in Preterm Babies

The present Randomized control trial was conducted to assess the effect of antenatal phenobarbitone in preventing intraventricular haemorrhage and neonatal convulsions in preterm babies. It was conducted among women with preterm labour admitted in R.G. Kar. Medical College, Kolkata, India. 100 pregnant women with high risk of preterm labour were selected as study group and treated with Inj. Phenobarbitone (10mg/kg) after admission and if the patient did not deliver within 24hrs, another additional dose of 100mg of phenobarbitone orally was given. Control group of 100 pregnant women with high risk of preterm labour in the same time period were taken as controls and were not given Phenobarbitone but received a placebo. This study compared the incidence of neonatal convulsion and intra-ventricular haemorrhage in neonates of preterm mothers receiving phenobarbitone versus mothers who did not receive phenobarbitone. We found Neonatal convulsions occurred in 9% of the study group and 12% among the control group. IVH occurred in 9% among the study group compared to 11% among the control group. Our study supports the use of antenatal phenobarbitone in preventing intraventricular haemorrhage and neonatal convulsion in preterm babies.

Author(s): Porkkodi P, Chakrabarty S, Kanrar P and Das A

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