AsianScientist (May 17, 2019) – A non-invasive ventilation strategy allows preterm infants to breath more easily, according to a study in the journal CHEST.
Preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome due to immature lungs face heightened risk of death, critical illness and prolonged hospitalization, particularly if they progress to develop acute respiratory distress syndrome. Invasive ventilation remains one of the cornerstones of reducing the death rate of preterm infants suffering from both syndromes.
However, invasive ventilation can increase the risk of ventilator-associated lung injury, which is known to cause chronic lung disease and brain damage, especially in infants who require repeated or prolonged intubation. Therefore, early weaning from invasive ventilation is key.
In this study, scientists led by Dr. Shi Yuan at the Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, China, developed a noninvasive strategy to help preterm infants avoid the complications arising from invasive ventilation.
Calling their method nasal high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (NHFOV), the researchers observed improved carbon dioxide removal and increased functional residual capacity in the lungs of preterm babies treated with NHFOV as compared to conventional methods. They also reported a lower reintubation rate in infants receiving NHFOV.
Furthermore, infants on NHFOV treatment were able to leave the hospital earlier than the control group receiving conventional treatment. The only adverse events reported in the NHFOV group were nasal trauma and intestinal dilation.
Two international randomized controlled trials are ongoing to establish the clinical superiority of NHFOV compared to other respiratory support methods for avoiding reintubation in this fragile group of preterm babies.
The article can be found at: Chen et al. (2019) Nasal High-Frequency Oscillatory Ventilation in Preterm Infants With Respiratory Distress Syndrome and ARDS After Extubation.
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Source: Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University.; Photo: Shutterstock.
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