Respiratory timing in intubated neonates with respiratory distress syndrome

Respiratory timing was studied in 100 babies ventilated for respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) during a brief period of continuous positive airway pressure. For the 76 spontaneously breathing babies the mean (SD) inspiratory and expiratory times were 0.31 (0.06) and 0.41 (0.12) seconds. Respiratory rate was predominantly modulated by expiratory time. The severity of RDS was the main influence on expiratory time.