Related Experiment Videos
Pulmonary function during the first year of life in healthy infants born prematurely
I T Merth1, J P de Winter, G J Borsboom
1Dept of Paediatrics, Leiden University, The Netherlands.
Insights
Premature birth in healthy infants does not diminish pulmonary function or ventilation distribution. Lung mechanics and ventilation distribution are normal for body size in preterm infants without prior cardiorespiratory issues.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Neonatology
- Respiratory Physiology
Background:
- Premature birth is a known risk factor for increased respiratory morbidity in infants.
- Understanding the long-term pulmonary implications in healthy preterm infants is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether premature birth is associated with diminished pulmonary function in healthy infants without a history of cardiorespiratory problems.
- To assess static respiratory system compliance (Crs), functional residual capacity (FRCHe), and ventilation distribution (MI) in preterm versus full-term infants.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 69 healthy infants (26 preterm, 43 full-term).
- Pulmonary function assessed using weighted spirometry, helium dilution for FRCHe, and mixing index (MI) for ventilation distribution.
- Repeatability of assessed indices was evaluated.
Main Results:
- Length-corrected FRCHe was similar between preterm and full-term infants.
- Crs differed initially but normalized when gestational age was considered.
- Mixing index was not different between groups and unrelated to body size.
- Preterm infants were smaller with smaller lung volumes, but these normalized for postconceptional age.
Conclusions:
- Gestational age less than 37 weeks is not associated with abnormal respiratory system mechanics relative to body size in healthy infants.
- Ventilation distribution is normal in healthy preterm infants without prior cardiorespiratory issues.
- Pulmonary function in healthy preterm infants is appropriate for their body size.
Abstract:
Premature birth is associated with increased respiratory morbidity. We investigated cross-sectionally, in 69 healthy infants who had never had cardiorespiratory problems, whether premature birth is associated with diminished pulmonary function. The study comprised 26 healthy infants born prematurely (PT), median gestational age 32 (26-36) weeks, and 43 healthy controls born full-term (FT), median gestational age 40 (37-42) weeks. Static respiratory system compliance (Crs) was assessed by weighted spirometry, combined with the measurement of the functional residual capacity by closed circuit helium dilution (FRCHe) and with assessment of ventilation distribution from the mixing index (MI). Repeatability of these indices was also assessed. Premature and full-term infants had the same length-corrected FRCHe; their Crs was different, but the difference disappeared when gestational age was taken into account. Mixing index was unrelated to body size and was not different between full-term and premature infants. Crown-heel length and lung volume were not different for any postconceptional age. However, infants born prematurely were smaller and had smaller lung volume at any postnatal age compared to those born at term. Repeatability of the indices was fair. These findings suggest that gestational age < 37 weeks is associated with normal respiratory system mechanics for body size, and normal distribution of ventilation in healthy infants who never had cardiorespiratory problems.