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Development of a Neonatal Piglet Acute Lung Injury Model Recreating the Early Environment of Preterm Infant Lungs
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Development of a Neonatal Piglet Acute Lung Injury Model Recreating the Early Environment of Preterm Infant Lungs

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Lung function at term in extremely preterm-born infants: a regional prospective cohort study

Mariann Haavik Bentsen1,2, Trond Markestad1,2, Knut Øymar2,3

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.

BMJ Open
|October 28, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Extremely preterm infants show abnormal lung function at term, regardless of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Tidal breathing measurements can predict future respiratory issues in these infants.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatology
  • Pediatric Pulmonology
  • Respiratory Physiology

Background:

  • Extremely preterm (EP) infants often experience respiratory complications.
  • Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a common chronic lung disease in premature infants.
  • Assessing lung function early is crucial for predicting long-term respiratory health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Compare lung function in EP infants (with and without BPD) to term-born infants.
  • Identify perinatal factors associated with lung function at term-equivalent age.
  • Evaluate the predictive value of early lung function for later respiratory morbidity in EP infants.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective recording of perinatal variables.
  • Tidal breathing parameters measured at term-equivalent age using electromagnetic inductance plethysmography.
  • Respiratory morbidity defined by readmissions or asthma medication use in the first year.

Main Results:

  • EP infants (with and without BPD) exhibited significant airway obstruction, higher tidal volumes, and increased minute ventilation compared to term infants.
  • Male gender, antenatal steroids, and duration of continuous positive airway pressure were linked to lung function.
  • A predictive model incorporating tidal breathing, BPD status, birth weight z-score, and gender accurately predicted first-year respiratory morbidity (AUC 0.818).

Conclusions:

  • Lung function at term-equivalent age is significantly impaired in EP infants, even without BPD.
  • Tidal breathing parameters show promise for predicting future pulmonary health in premature infants.
Abstract

Keywords:
bronchopulmonary dysplasialung diseaselung function testprematuritytidal breathing

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