Antenatal Risk Factors Associated with Spontaneous Intestinal Perforation in Preterm Infants Receiving Postnatal Indomethacin

Retrospective study of 171 preterm infants (<29 weeks) identifies antenatal betamethasone timing as a key risk factor for spontaneous intestinal perforation when prophylactic indomethacin is used postnatally. Each hour closer to delivery that betamethasone is given increases SIP risk by 1%, with multiple births also showing elevated risk.