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Experiences with high-frequency oscillatory ventilation in premature infants with respiratory distress syndrome
M J Jeng1, W J Soong, S J Chen
1Department of Pediatrics, Children's Medical Center, Veterans General Hospital-Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
Insights
High-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) is safe and effective for premature infants with severe respiratory distress syndrome. This method showed a low incidence of chronic lung disease and no air-leak syndrome, improving survival rates.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Pediatric Respiratory Care
Background:
- High-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) is recognized for low lung injury incidence in premature infants with respiratory distress syndrome.
- This study reports initial clinical findings on HFOV use in this vulnerable population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the safety and efficacy of HFOV in premature infants with severe respiratory distress syndrome.
- To assess patient survival, chronic lung disease, and HFOV-related morbidity.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective evaluation of 10 premature infants with severe respiratory distress syndrome treated with HFOV.
- Analysis of clinical course and laboratory data, including survival, chronic lung disease, and morbidity.
Main Results:
- Mean gestational age was 29 weeks; mean birth weight, 1182g. Mean HFOV treatment duration was 3.4 days.
- Overall survival rate was 90%. Two infants developed moderate chronic lung disease.
- No cases of air-leak syndrome were observed during HFOV treatment.
Conclusions:
- Initial clinical experience indicates HFOV is a safe and effective treatment for premature infants with severe respiratory distress syndrome.
- The incidence of moderate to severe chronic lung disease and air-leak syndrome was low with HFOV.
Background:
High-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) has been used in treating premature infants with respiratory distress syndrome who have a low incidence of ventilation-associated lung injury. Herein, we report our initial clinical experience in using HFOV to treat such infants.
Methods:
From October 1996 to February 1997, 10 premature infants with severe respiratory distress syndrome treated with HFOV were retrospectively evaluated. Clinical course and laboratory data collected during treatment were analyzed. Parameters evaluated included patient survival rate, incidence of chronic lung disease and morbidity associated with HFOV usage.
Results:
The mean gestational age was 29 +/- 2 weeks; mean birth weight, 1,182 +/- 342 g; and mean period of HFOV treatment, 3.4 +/- 1.9 days. One patient died of sepsis due to infective pancarditis. Two patients developed moderate chronic lung disease at 30 days post delivery and in one of these patients, the disease persisted at 36 weeks' of age. The overall survival rate was 90%. No patient developed air-leak syndrome during the course of treatment.
Conclusions:
Our initial experience demonstrated that using HFOV in treating premature infants with severe respiratory distress syndrome was safe and effective. The incidence of moderate to severe chronic lung disease or air-leak syndrome following HFOV was low.