title: A comparison of 7-day versus 10-day course of low-dose dexamethasone for chronically ventilated preterm infants.
abstract: The objective of the study was to compare the effect of two different dexamethasone regimens on respiratory outcomes of ventilator-dependent preterm infants.
  
  
  
  Retrospective study of ventilated preterm infants <29 weeks gestational age treated with either 7-day or 10-day dexamethasone course. Primary outcome was days to successful extubation. Other outcomes included rate of successful extubation and need for repeat steroid therapy.
  
  
  
  Fifty-nine infants were identified; 32 (54%) received 7 days of dexamethasone and 27 (46%) received 10 days of dexamethasone. Both groups had comparable baseline demographics and clinical characteristics. Mean time to successful extubation was similar between the two groups (5.1±2.7 days in 7-day group and 6.0±3.7 days in 10-day group, P=0.42). Successful extubation by end of treatment (56% versus 67%, P=0.44) and need for repeat steroid therapy (47% versus 33%, P=0.43) were also similar.
  
  
  
  7-day and 10-day course of dexamethasone have comparable efficacy in facilitating extubation of ventilator-dependent preterm infants.
authors.affiliation: University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine, Kansas City, MO, USA.|Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Mercy Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, USA.|Center for Infant Pulmonary Disorders, Children's Mercy Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cuna
authors.affiliation: University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine, Kansas City, MO, USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Govindarajan
authors.affiliation: Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Mercy Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oschman
authors.affiliation: Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Mercy Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, USA.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.affiliation: University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, MO, USA.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Brophy
authors.affiliation: Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Mercy Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, USA.|Center for Infant Pulmonary Disorders, Children's Mercy Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Norberg
authors.affiliation: University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine, Kansas City, MO, USA.|Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Mercy Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, USA.|Center for Infant Pulmonary Disorders, Children's Mercy Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, USA.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Truog
mesh_terms: D001997:Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008923:Missouri; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000628:therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D003907:Dexamethasone