Effects of polysubstance exposure on neonatal outcomes for infants with intrauterine opioid exposure.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

7-8-2020

Publication Title

Journal of perinatology : official journal of the California Perinatal Association

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Quantify the effect of prenatal polysubstance exposure on neonatal outcomes compared to methadone exposure alone.

STUDY DESIGN: This retrospective cohort study compared infants with methadone-only exposure to methadone with additional psychoactive substances. Outcomes included time to maximum Finnegan scores, proportion requiring scheduled morphine, and length of stay (LOS).

RESULTS: We identified 323 subjects. The median time to maximum Finnegan score was 38.0 h with 94% peaking within 96 h. Forty-five percent of methadone-only infants were started on scheduled morphine compared to 54% of polysubstance infants (p = 0.10). LOS for polysubstance-exposed infants was 1.30 times longer than infants with methadone-only exposure (95% confidence interval: 1.05, 1.60).

CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to methadone with additional psychoactive substances is associated with longer LOS, but not postnatal morphine use or peak withdrawal symptoms. Most infants experience peak withdrawal symptoms within 4 days and may not benefit from longer observation.

Clinical Institute

Women & Children

Department

Perinatology/Neonatology

Department

Internal Medicine

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