RESPIRATORY SUPPORT OF PRETERM INFANTS AFTER EXTUBATION: COMPARISON OF CLINICAL EFFICACY OF STANDART AND HIGH FREQUENCY NON-INVASIVE VENTILATION

Abstract

In animal models nasal high frequency oscillatory ventilation appears to provide better development of immature lung causing less injury. This open randomized study compared the clinical efficacy of the standard (SV) and high frequency (HFV) non-invasive (nasal) ventilation after primary extubation of very preterm infants. The study included 24 very premature infants with birth weight ≤1500 gand respiratory distress syndrome. Before the first extubation infants were randomized into the main (n = 12) or control (n = 12) group. A certain mode of respiratory support was used according to the protocol for at least 72 hrs. The primary study outcome was the need for re-intubation within 72 hrs after the initial extubation. Mortality, incidences of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and other important complications of prematurity were also compared in these groups. The frequency of re-intubation within the first 72 hrs. of non-invasive respiratory support was similar in both groups (41.67%). No differences were observed between the groups for the total duration of respiratory support as well. The incidence of BPD was twice higher in the group of infants who were treated using nasal HFV (main group) according to physiological definition, but this difference was not significant (2 cases (16.67%) compared to 1 case (8.33%) accordingly; p = 0.78). BPD incidences according to the clinical definition were similar in the both groups (5 cases - 41.67%). The use of high-frequency non-invasive ventilation after primary extubation of very preterm infants has no obvious clinical advantages over the extubation followed by standard non-invasive ventilation.