Hemodynamic effects of high-frequency oscillatory ventilation in preterm neonates with respiratory distress syndrome

High-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) can have negative hemodynamic effects in neonates. We aimed to assess systemic, cerebral, and cardiac hemodynamic changes in preterm neonates with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) on HFOV.

This observational study was conducted from June 2017 until May 2019 on 100 preterm neonates with RDS that needed switching from conventional mechanical ventilation to HFOV. Initial and Follow up capillary blood gas, echocardiographic examination, cranial ultrasound, and Doppler study of cerebral, celiac, superior mesenteric, and renal arteries using resistive index (RI) were performed before, 24 h, and 72 h after the use of HFOV.

There was no statistically significant difference as regards cardiac function, heart rate, or intraventricular hemorrhage on follow up measurements. However blood pressure, left ventricular dimensions, and volumes statistically increased after HFOV. There was a statistically significant decrease in the pulmonary artery systolic pressure after the use of HFOV. After the use of HFOV, there was a statistically significant increase in the superior vena cava flow and left ventricular output while right ventricular output values initially increased then slightly decreased but still higher than the initial values. RI of cerebral, superior mesenteric, celiac, and renal arteries significantly decreased on follow up measurements which reflected increased blood flow in these arteries.

HFOV had no negative effect on the cerebral, systemic, or cardiac hemodynamics when applied at optimum MAP. Therefore, concerns about negative hemodynamic effects of HFOV should not discourage the use of HFOV when deemed clinically indicated provided the use of optimum MAP.