Continuous oscillation therapy improves the pulmonary outcome of intubated newborns: results of a prospective, randomized, controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effects of continuous postural changes produced by an oscillating bed on cardiopulmonary function and on the duration of endotracheal intubation and oxygen supplementation with large premature and term infants.


METHODS
A prospective, randomized, controlled trial.


METHODS
Neonatal intensive care unit.


METHODS
Nineteen 1-day-old newborns weighing > 1500 g with various respiratory diseases.


METHODS
The treatment group received continuous postural therapy on an oscillating bed; the control group received conventional frequency of manual postural changes. Both groups received physiotherapy. Patients were studied until they were extubated and oxygen supplementation was stopped.


RESULTS
Selected cardiopulmonary variables and ventilator settings during the first 6 hrs of study and the overall duration of endotracheal intubation and oxygen supplementation were determined. Oscillation therapy significantly decreased the duration of oxygen supplementation and had no adverse effects on cardiopulmonary variables. In a subgroup of infants with respiratory distress syndrome from prematurity or asphyxia, oscillation therapy also significantly shortened the duration of oxygen supplementation; a trend toward reduced duration of intubation was observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Continuous postural changes using an oscillating bed reduced the duration of oxygen supplementation in infants with various respiratory disorders. Furthermore, this oscillation therapy was not associated with adverse cardiopulmonary or thermal complications.
Department of Pediatrics, University of Hawaii, Honolulu.
D T
DT
Murai
J W
JW
Grant
D000208:Acute Disease; D001513:Beds; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D015916:Drainage, Postural / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal; D008297:Male; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome