Functional residual capacity and pulmonary mechanics in premature infants receiving a 12-day dexamethasone course.
The objective of this paper is to determine the effects of a 12-day dexamethasone course of the pulmonary function of preterm infants. The design consisted of a consecutive sample of eligible patients, before-after trial. The Regional referral center neonatal ICU was the setting. The patients were 13 preterm infants, 545-1315 g, requiring mechanical ventilation. The following was used: Intravenous dexamethasone for a 12-day tapering course beginning at 0.5 mg/kg every 12 hr. Main outcome measures were as follows: Measurements of functional residual capacity (FRC), compliance, resistance, arterial blood gases and alveolar-arterial differences, level of ventilatory assistance, weight, length. All measures of pulmonary function demonstrated significant improvement by Day 12 of treatment. Most improvement occurred in the first 6 days of treatment, in association with increased lung volume.
Lee
M
M
Perinatology Center, New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, New York 10021, USA.
Diah
P
P
Krauss
A N
AN
Auld
P A
PA
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005652:Functional Residual Capacity; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008297:Male; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D003907:Dexamethasone