[Does stopping of oral feeding favour the occurrence of auriculoventricular block in premature infants treated with diphemanil?]

Arch Pediatr. 1997 Feb;4(2):158-62. doi: 10.1016/s0929-693x(97)86162-3.
[Article in French]

Abstract

Background: Bradycardia in preterm infants may require anticholinergic therapy (diphemanil methylsulphate). Such treatment may cause prolongation of QT interval and auriculoventricular block.

Case reports: Three premature infants born before 34 weeks of gestational age were given 6-8 mg/kg/d diphemanil because they suffered from bradycardiac episodes. Aggravation and/or persistence of bradycardia required withdrawal of gavage feeding: heart block occurred within a few hours which subsided after cessation of diphemanil and oral refeeding. Diphemanil at progressive dosage was later introduced safely in two of these infants.

Conclusion: The short interval of time between the oral feeding withdrawal and occurrence of heart block justified therapy be stopped or transiently reduced whenever oral feeding must be interrupted.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Female
  • Heart Block / chemically induced*
  • Humans
  • Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena*
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infant, Premature*
  • Male
  • Parasympatholytics / adverse effects*
  • Piperidines / adverse effects*

Substances

  • Parasympatholytics
  • Piperidines
  • diphemanil methylsulfate