[Early continuous positive pressure in the labor room].
BACKGROUND
Indication for intubation and mechanical ventilation in premature infants may be reduced by initiating continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) in delivery room.


METHODS
Immediately after birth, respiratory support with CPAP was given to all infants with gestational age less than 32 weeks. In case of apnea or progressing symptoms with hypoxemia or carbonic acidosis, with PCO2 increasing to more than 60 mmHg, infants were treated with nasotracheal intubation and ventilation.


RESULTS
One hundred and fifty one infants, with mean gestational age 29.6 +/- 1.9 weeks and mean birth weight 1,326 +/- 378 g were delivered in the obstetrical department of Marseille. In delivery room, 63% were treated with CPAP, and only 13% with nasotracheal intubation. The need for subsequent mechanical ventilation was reduced to 40% of the population. Surfactant therapy was used in 17% of this cohort. Two infants were given surfactant and extubated. Three of 14 deaths (9.2%) were caused by respiratory disease.


CONCLUSIONS
Early CPAP reduces the indication of mechanical ventilation in premature infants. Incidence of pulmonary complications such as pneumothorax or bronchopulmonary dysplasia is low among those infants who require mechanical ventilation later. Early CPAP takes place in a general policy to decrease neonatal morbidity.
Millet
V
V
Service de néonatologie, hôpital d'Enfants, CHU Timone, Marseille, France.
Lacroze
V
V
Bartoli
J M
JM
Samperiz
S
S
Leclaire
M
M
Unal
D
D
D003696:Delivery Rooms; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007440:Intubation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009017:Morbidity; D009873:Operating Rooms; D011175:Positive-Pressure Respiration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000517:prevention & control; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use
D013501:Surface-Active Agents
Pression positive continue précoce en salle de travail.