LY Siu, WH Chan, SK Au, NS Kwong

Abstract

Cyclopentolate-phenylephrine eye drops are commonly used to achieve mydriasis during routine screening for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in preterm infants. Two cases of necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) following ROP screening in two premature Chinese triplets were reported. Literature studying and reporting the side effects of mydriatrics and the ROP examination were reviewed. Also, safety measures concerning ROP screening were discussed. In our institution two more years after adopting these safety measures, no more feeding difficulties or NEC were noted following ROP screening. We concluded that both the mydriatics and ROP examination may lead to systemic and gastrointestinal side effects in preterm babies and may be associated with NEC in high risk patients. This association warrants further study and the safety measures should be observed.

環噴托酯─苯腎上腺素眼藥水通常被用在早產視網膜病（ROP）的常規篩查中，起到擴瞳作用。本文報導了兩例三胞胎早產兒在ROP篩查後出現繼發壞死性小腸結腸炎（NEC）。我們回顧了有關擴瞳藥和ROP檢查副作用的文獻研究和報導。同時，也對如何安全地進行ROP篩查進行了討論。在我們服務的機構裏，在採用安全檢查措施後的兩年多來，沒有再出現繼發於ROP篩查所導致的餵養困難和NEC的病例。我們臨床發現，擴瞳藥和 ROP檢查都有可能導致早產兒系統性及胃腸的不良副作用，對於一些高危患兒，還會併發NEC。關於併發NEC 的確切機制和安全的檢查措施有待進一步的研究。