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HOW DO WE START
PROPRANOLOL TREATMENT?
Although it is a well-known and an old drug used in diseases of children, we were ca-
reful in practice with this drug because of the prescribing information and the need
to use in premature infants under 1000 gr in weight. With the experience in new
and important oncology drugs, we easily established the tests, treatment protocol
and follow up guidelines. Simple blood count, liver and kidney function tests cardi-
ological evaluation with electrocardiography and echocardiogram were the initial
evaluations in every patient. We monitored the patient electronically for 24 hours
and measured the pulse continuously and blood pressure at intervals of 2 hours.
At the beginning, hospitalization period was 72 hours. At this time, this period was
a week in Germany. Later we reduced this period to 24 hours. The effects on pulse
and blood pressure is prominent usually in the first doses of propranolol. No severe
bradicardia and/or hypotension was seen in our cases, and there was no early side
effect leading to cessation of treatment was seen.
As seen in the photograph (up, left), the patient was normal at birth,
then later the lesion become swollen and dark red in time. It was seen
in the photograph taken when he was 42 days-old (up, right). After 45
days and 90 days respectively, the response was excellent (bottom left and
right). This was a severe haemangioma and was a good sample for our
other fascial haemangioma patients like him later. In haemangiomas,
like these swollen from the skin surface, the response is usually good.
Case Story
M. M. B.
Birth Date : 02.02.2011
Admission Date: 15.03.2011
Age at Diagnosis: 43 days
City
: Mersin
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