Oxygen cost of breathing in newborn infants with long-term ventilatory support

Abstract

Oxygen consumption (v̇O2) was measured during controlled and spontaneous ventilation with continuous positive airway pressure in newborn infants in whom chronic lung disease later developed. The oxygen cost of breathing (the difference in v̇ O 2 between spontaneous and controlled ventilation) was significantly higher in infants with chronic lung disease than in control infants (20.1% ± 7.5% and 4.8% ± 4.9% of v̇ O 2 during spontaneous ventilation [ p < 0.05], respectively). (J P EDIATR 1995;127:984-7)