Elective high-frequency oscillatory versus conventional ventilation in preterm infants: a systematic review and meta-analysis of individual patients' data.
BACKGROUND
Population and study design heterogeneity has confounded previous meta-analyses, leading to uncertainty about effectiveness and safety of elective high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) in preterm infants. We assessed effectiveness of elective HFOV versus conventional ventilation in this group.


METHODS
We did a systematic review and meta-analysis of individual patients' data from 3229 participants in ten randomised controlled trials, with the primary outcomes of death or bronchopulmonary dysplasia at 36 weeks' postmenstrual age, death or severe adverse neurological event, or any of these outcomes.


RESULTS
For infants ventilated with HFOV, the relative risk of death or bronchopulmonary dysplasia at 36 weeks' postmenstrual age was 0.95 (95% CI 0.88-1.03), of death or severe adverse neurological event 1.00 (0.88-1.13), or any of these outcomes 0.98 (0.91-1.05). No subgroup of infants (eg, gestational age, birthweight for gestation, initial lung disease severity, or exposure to antenatal corticosteroids) benefited more or less from HFOV. Ventilator type or ventilation strategy did not change the overall treatment effect.


CONCLUSIONS
HFOV seems equally effective to conventional ventilation in preterm infants. Our results do not support selection of preterm infants for HFOV on the basis of gestational age, birthweight for gestation, initial lung disease severity, or exposure to antenatal corticosteroids.


BACKGROUND
Nestlé Belgium, Belgian Red Cross, and Dräger International.
Cools
Filip
F
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium. filip.cools@uzbrussel.be
Askie
Lisa M
LM
Offringa
Martin
M
Asselin
Jeanette M
JM
Calvert
Sandra A
SA
Courtney
Sherry E
SE
Dani
Carlo
C
Durand
David J
DJ
Gerstmann
Dale R
DR
Henderson-Smart
David J
DJ
Marlow
Neil
N
Peacock
Janet L
JL
Pillow
J Jane
JJ
Soll
Roger F
RF
Thome
Ulrich H
UH
Truffert
Patrick
P
Schreiber
Michael D
MD
Van Reempts
Patrick
P
Vendettuoli
Valentina
V
Vento
Giovanni
G
D001997:Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia / Q000209:etiology; D006612:High-Frequency Ventilation / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D011175:Positive-Pressure Respiration / Q000009:adverse effects; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000628:therapy*