Lung inflammation in preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome: effects of ventilation with different tidal volumes.
Ventilation with an inappropriate tidal volume (Vt) triggers lung inflammation, an important predisposing factor of bronchopulmonary dysplasia. It still remains uncertain what the appropriate starting target Vt should be during the acute phase of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). Our aim was to evaluate lung inflammation in preterm infants undergoing synchronized intermittent positive-pressure ventilation (SIPPV) with two different tidal volumes Vt during the acute phase of RDS. Thirty preterm infants (gestational age, 25-32 weeks) with acute RDS were randomly assigned to be ventilated with Vt = 5 ml/kg (n = 15) or Vt = 3 ml/kg (n = 15). Proinflammatory cytokines (interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha) were determined in the tracheal aspirate on days 1, 3, and 7 of life. IL-8 and TNF-alpha levels collected on day 7 were significantly higher (P < 0.05), and mechanical ventilation lasted longer in the group with Vt = 3 ml/kg (16.8 +/- 4 vs. 9.2 +/- 4 days; P = 0.05). In conclusion, our data show significantly higher lung inflammation in preterm infants ventilated with Vt = 3 ml/kg, suggesting a role for Vt = 5 ml/kg in reducing both inflammatory response during the acute phase of RDS and the length of ventilation. Whether the use of this starting Vt prevents bronchopulmonary dysplasia requires further study.
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Vittore Buzzi Children's Hospital, Milan, Italy. intensivist@tiscali.it
Gianluca
G
Lista
Francesca
F
Castoldi
Paola
P
Fontana
Roberta
R
Reali
Alessandro
A
Reggiani
Silvia
S
Bianchi
Gilberto
G
Compagnoni
D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000378:metabolism; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D011175:Positive-Pressure Respiration / Q000379:methods*; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy*; D013990:Tidal Volume; D013997:Time Factors; D014132:Trachea / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
D016209:Interleukin-8; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha