Clinicoetiological Pattern and Outcome of Neonates Requiring Mechanical Ventilation: Study in a Tertiary Care Centre

The clinical and etiological pattern of ventilated newborns, their outcome in relation to morbidity and mortality was studied with 50 ventilated newborns, including outborns. M:f ratio was 2.1:1. The most common gestational age 28-36 weeks (60%) and mostly were appropriate for gestational age (66%). Survival rate 40% (20/50) being directly proportional to the gestational age and intrauterine growth pattern (P < 0.01). Babies by LSCS Lower Segment Cessarian Section survived more than born by normal vaginal delivery (46.7% vs. 37.1%). More outborn survival could be related to their advanced gestational age on presentation. The initial assessment of APGAR score of >7 had a better outcome (56.3%; P < 0.03). The most common indication of ventilation was hyaline membrane disease (19/50) but the survival rate best in babies with meconium aspiration syndrome (54.5%). The most prevalent complication was sepsis (survival rate 60%) while conditions such as shock, intraventricular hemorrhage, disseminated intravascular coagulation, air leak syndrome, and pulmonary hemorrhage had 100% mortality. Thus, the outcome as survival is constrained by many factors; newborn's profile, conditions at birth, and postnatal resuscitation.