PULMONARY FUNCTION AND RESPIRATORY MORBIDITY IN SCHOOL-AGED, PREMATURELY- BORN CHILDREN VENTILATED FOR NEONATAL RESPIRATORY INSUFFICIENCY

Abstract

To evaluate the effects of neonatal ventilatory treatment and prematurity on later lung function and respiratory morbidity, we examined 42 preterms and 30 fullterm controls at the age of 6-9 years. The preterm group consisted of children with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) (N=10), children with neonatal respirator care but without BPD (N=19) and of children without severe neonatal respiratory problems (N=13). All fullterm controls had uneventful neonatal history. Lung function test were done with a pneumotachograph (Medikro Ltd., Kuopio) and a whole-body pletysmograph (2800-Autobox). The BPD group had markedly decreased specific airway conductance and increased residual volume but no significant differences in spirometric measures when compared with non-ventilated preterms and fullterm controls. Ventilator-treated non-BPD group had comparable airway conductance but, instead, larger lung volumes than non-ventilated controls. No differences were found between non-ventilated preterm group and fullterm controls. BPD group had highest respiratory morbidity during the first years of life. The present data show that BPD patients and other ventilator treated preterms (but not non-ventilated preterms) need pulmonary follow-up.