title: Current strategies for treating infants with severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
abstract: Advances in neonatal intensive care have markedly improved survival rates for infants born at a very early lung development stage (<26 weeks gestation). In these premature infants, even low inspired oxygen concentrations and gentle ventilatory methods may disrupt distal lung growth, a condition described as "new" bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). BPD usually develops into a mild form, with only few infants requiring ventilator support and oxygen supplementation at 36 weeks post-conception. No magic bullets exist for treating infants with established severe BPD. Current management of the disease aims at maintaining an adequate gas exchange while promoting optimal lung growth. Prolonged oxygen therapy and ventilator support through nasal cannulae or a tracheotomy are often required to maintain blood gases. Short-course, low-dose corticosteroids may improve lung function and accelerate weaning from oxygen and mechanical ventilation. Pulmonary hypertension is a major complication in infants with severe BPD. Pulmonary vasodilators, such as sildenafil followed by bosentan, may improve the oxygenation and pulmonary outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Paediatric Emergency and Intensive Care, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy. p.papoff@libero.it
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Papoff
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cerasaro
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Caresta
authors.forename: Caterina Silvia
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Barbàra
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Midulla
authors.forename: Corrado
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Moretti
mesh_terms: D001997:Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D065627:Familial Primary Pulmonary Hypertension; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000209:etiology; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D012138:Respiratory Therapy