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Methods and evidence on volume-targeted ventilation in preterm infants
Nelson Claure1, Eduardo Bancalari
1Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida 33101, USA.
Insights
Volume-targeted ventilation in premature infants shows potential for improved stability and faster weaning. However, current evidence does not fully confirm better long-term respiratory outcomes, requiring further research.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Pediatric Respiratory Care
- Critical Care
Background:
- Volume-targeted ventilation (VTV) strategies are crucial for managing respiratory support in premature infants.
- Various VTV modalities exist, some adapted from adult or older pediatric populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe VTV modalities used in preterm infants.
- To review the clinical application and evidence for VTV's benefits in this population.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on VTV in preterm infants.
- Analysis of physiologic studies and randomized controlled trials.
Main Results:
- Physiologic studies suggest improved tidal volume stability and gas exchange with less ventilatory support.
- Randomized trials show faster weaning and shorter mechanical ventilation duration, but not improved respiratory outcomes.
Conclusions:
- The definitive benefits of VTV on respiratory outcomes in preterm infants are not yet confirmed.
- Potential advantages may be method- and target-volume dependent, necessitating further investigation.
Purpose Of Review:
Several modalities of volume-targeted ventilation have been developed for the premature infant or were adopted from those used in older populations. The article describes these modalities, their clinical application in preterm infants and reviews the evidence for the possible beneficial effects in this population.
Recent Findings:
Evidence from physiologic studies indicates increased stability of tidal volume and gas exchange while requiring less ventilatory support. Randomized trials of volume-targeted ventilation indicate faster weaning and shorter duration of mechanical ventilation, but this has not resulted in better respiratory outcome.
Summary:
The proposed benefits of volume-targeted ventilation on respiratory outcome have not been fully confirmed by the existing data. Some trends suggest possible benefits, but these need to be further explored. The efficacy of volume-targeted ventilation may be method dependent and may also be influenced by the magnitude of the volume targeted.
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