[Randomized controlled study of targeted tidal volume ventilation for treatment of severe neonatal respiratory...

To evaluate the efficacy of targeted tidal volume ventilation in the treatment of severe neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS).

Eighty-four neonates with severe RDS between June 2008 and January 2010 were randomly assigned to 3 groups according to the ventilation mode: synchronized intermittent positive pressure ventilation plus volume guarantee (SIPPV+VG; n=31), high frequency oscillation ventilation (HFOV; n=23) and intermittent mandatory ventilation (IMV; n=30). The oxygenation status, the durations of oxygen exposure and ventilation and the incidence of complications were observed.

The oxygenation status (P/F and a/APO2) in the SIPPV+VG and the HFOV groups was improved significantly 12 hrs after ventilation (P<0.05). While in the IMV group, the oxygenation status was not improved until 24 hrs after ventilation. The durations of oxygen exposure and ventilation in the SIPPV+VG and the HFOV groups were shorter than in the IMV group (P<0.05). The incidences of air leak syndrome and ventilation-associated pneumonia (VAP) were lower in the SIPPV+VG and the HFOV groups than in the IMV group (P<0.05). The incidence of severe intracranial hemorrhage in the HFOV group was higher than in the other two groups (P<0.05).

Compared with IMV, SIPPV+VG and HFOV can improve the oxygenation status more quickly, shorten the ventilation duration and decrease the incidences of air leak syndrome and VAP in neonates with severe RDS.