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Air leaks and vasopressin release
N McIntosh1, P Prakash, A Smith
1Department of Child Health, St George's Hospital Medical School, London.
Archives of Disease in Childhood
|November 1, 1990
Summary
Ventilation for respiratory issues in very low birthweight infants can cause air leaks. These events are often associated with increased vasopressin levels, but not typically with syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone release signs.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Pediatric Critical Care
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Very low birthweight infants often require mechanical ventilation for respiratory problems.
- Air leaks are a known complication in ventilated neonates.
- Vasopressin plays a role in fluid balance and stress response.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between air leaks and vasopressin levels in ventilated very low birthweight infants.
- To determine if air leaks trigger the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone release.
Main Methods:
- Observational study of eleven very low birthweight infants requiring ventilation.
- Monitoring for air leak events during the first week of life.
- Measurement of urinary vasopressin excretion and plasma arginine vasopressin concentration following air leaks.
Main Results:
- Twenty-two air leak occasions were recorded in eleven infants.
- Increased urinary vasopressin excretion was observed in 16 out of 19 events.
- Elevated plasma arginine vasopressin concentration occurred in 10 out of 13 events.
- Signs of syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone release were rare.
Conclusions:
- Air leak events in ventilated neonates are frequently associated with increased vasopressin levels.
- The physiological response to air leaks involves vasopressin, but typically does not manifest as the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone release.