title: Lung function and respiratory health at school age in ventilated very low birth weight infants.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate respiratory health and lung function in school-aged children without broncho-pulmonary dysplasia (BPD), who were very low birth weight (VLBWi) and randomized at birth to high frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) or volume guarantee (VG) ventilation for severe respiratory distress syndrome (RDS).
  
  
  METHODS
  In this observational study, 7-y-old ex-preterm infants with severe RDS, randomly assigned at birth to receive assisted/control ventilation + VG (Vt = 5 mL/kg, PEEP = 5 cmH2O)(VG group; mean GA 27 ± 2 wk; mean BW 1086 ± 158 g) or HFOV (HFOV group; mean GA: 27 ± 2; mean BW: 1090 ± 139 g) (both groups were ventilated with Drager Babylog 8000 plus) were recalled. Neonatal clinical data and outcome were known. Actual outcomes were investigated with an interview; lung function was measured by whole-body plethysmography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty five children were studied (VG group, n = 13 vs. HFOV group, n = 12). There were no differences in anthropometric data, drugs (steroids/bronchodilators and antibiotics) or hospital readmission for respiratory disorders. Compliance to the test was adequate. The authors found a similar obstructive deficit (elevated values: airway resistance (RAW), residual volume (RV), total lung capacity (TLC) with near-normal spirometry) in both groups suggesting a persistent airflow limitation even in absence of BPD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  VLBW infants even in absence of BPD, need long term respiratory follow-up, because they frequently show an impairment of lung function, independent from initial respiratory support, even if at birth the choice is a lung protective approach (e.g., HFOV or VG ventilation).
authors.affiliation: Department of NICU, V.Buzzi Children's Hospital ICP, Via Castelvetro 32, 20154, Milan, Italy, g.lista@icp.mi.it.
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lista
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Castoldi
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bianchi
authors.forename: Enrica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lupo
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cavigioli
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Farolfi
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bersanini
authors.forename: Emiliana
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ferrerio
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D006612:High-Frequency Ventilation; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology; D010993:Plethysmography, Whole Body; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000628:therapy