[Association between ventilation index and time on mechanical ventilation in infants with acute viral bronchiolitis].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the association between time on mechanical ventilation and anthropometric, clinical and pulmonary function variables, measured early, in infants on invasive mechanical ventilation with acute respiratory failure due to viral bronchiolitis, and the temporal progression of variables with significant correlations.


METHODS
Twenty-nine infants admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit of UNICAMP university hospital were studied. Acute viral bronchiolitis was defined according to clinical and radiological criteria. Children with chronic diseases and those that were hemodynamically unstable were excluded. All measurements were taken after 24 to 72 hours' mechanical ventilation, using volumetric capnography and blood gas analysis. Mechanical ventilation time was divided into: < or = 7 days and > 7 days. Association between time on mechanical ventilation and the variables analyzed was determined by Spearman's Correlation Coefficient (r(s)).


RESULTS
Time on mechanical ventilation showed a significant positive correlation with PaCO(2) (rs = 0.45, p = 0.01) and ventilation index (rs = 0.51, p = 0.005), and a negative correlation with pH (rs = -0.40, p = 0.03). Ventilation indices of 37, measured between day one and day five, was associated with a progressively increased risk of more than 7 days on mechanical ventilation (OR = 4.2 on the first day to 15.71 on the fourth day).


CONCLUSIONS
Ventilation index, PaCO(2) and pH, measured early, were associated with prolonged mechanical ventilation, reflecting the severity of ventilatory disturbance and the need for support.
Almeida-Júnior
Armando A
AA
Departamento de Pediatria, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Rua Jasmim 750, Torre 1, Apt. 84, CEP 13087-460 Campinas, SP, Brazil. armandoalmeida@directnet.com.br
da Silva
Marcos T N
MT
Almeida
Celize C B
CC
Jacomo
Andréa D N
AD
Nery
Breno M
BM
Ribeiro
José D
JD
D000208:Acute Disease; D001990:Bronchiolitis, Viral / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000628:therapy* / Q000821:virology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013997:Time Factors