An international survey of volume-targeted neonatal ventilation.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate clinical practice of volume-targeted ventilation (VTV).


METHODS
Internet-based survey of all 50 tertiary neonatal units in Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Norway.


RESULTS
Response rate was 100%. VTV was routinely used in 25 (50%) units; 15/25 (60%) in Australasia and 10/25 (40%) in the Nordic countries. The most common reason given for using VTV was that it reduces bronchopulmonary dysplasia (13/25; 52%). The median (IQR) of upper limits of target tidal volume were (1) for initial ventilation of preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome 5.0 (4.6-6.0) ml/kg and (2) for infants with ventilator-dependent bronchopulmonary dysplasia 6.0 (5.0-8.0) ml/kg. The median (IQR) maximum peak inspiratory pressure limit units were prepared to use in VTV-mode was 35 (30-42.5) cm H(2)O.


CONCLUSIONS
Half of the units used VTV routinely, but with a considerable variation in VTV practice. More studies are required to establish best VTV practice.
Klingenberg
Claus
C
Neonatal Services/Department of Newborn Research, Royal Women's Hospital, 20 Flemington Road, Parkville, Melbourne, Victoria 3052, Australia. claus.klingenberg@unn.no
Wheeler
Kevin I
KI
Owen
Louise S
LS
Kaaresen
Per I
PI
Davis
Peter G
PG
D001724:Birth Weight; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D015931:Intensive Care, Neonatal / Q000379:methods*; D020407:Internet; D011364:Professional Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000628:therapy