High-frequency oscillatory ventilation in premature infants.
BACKGROUND
Although assisted ventilation has reduced the mortality rate of premature infants, pulmonary disease is still the major cause of morbidity and mortality in very low birth weight infants. We designed this study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) in premature infants and to compare the outcome for early intervention with HFOV versus conventional ventilation (CV).


METHODS
From January, 1997, to June, 1998, we analyzed premature infants with respiratory failure who required mechanical ventilation and supplemental oxygen to support adequate gas exchange in our neonatal intensive care unit. Patients were eligible if their gestational age was less than 35 weeks or their birth weight was less than 1,751 g. A total of 35 neonates were enrolled in the study. Eighteen infants were treated with HFOV, and 17 infants were treated with CV. They were treated with early intervention of HFOV or CV, within 24 hours-of-age. Patients were excluded if a lethal congenital anomaly, bacteremia, hydrops fetalis, congenital diaphragmatic hernia or intubation only for apnea were noted. Data on demographics, gas exchange and outcome parameters were collected for each patient enrolled in the study.


RESULTS
No differences were noted in the demographic features between the study groups. All of the enrolled patients suffered from variable grades of respiratory distress syndrome. A significantly shorter intubation period was found in the HFOV group compared with the CV group (2.8 +/- 1.5 days vs 8.8 +/- 9.4 days; p = 0.013).


CONCLUSIONS
HFOV is a safe and effective therapy for premature infants with respiratory failure due to respiratory distress syndrome.
Lai
M K
MK
Department of Pediatrics, Children's Medical Center, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan, ROC.
Jeng
M J
MJ
Soong
W J
WJ
Liu
C W
CW
Chen
S J
SJ
Hwang
B
B
D005260:Female; D006612:High-Frequency Ventilation; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008297:Male; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000628:therapy*