Objective To evaluate the clinical course, respiratory outcomes and markers of infl ammation in preterm infants with moderate respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) assigned from birth to nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) or bi-level NCPAP. Methods A total of 40 infants with a gestational age (GA) of 28-34 weeks (<35 weeks' GA), affected by moderate RDS, were considered eligible and were randomised to NCPAP (group A; n=20, CPAP level=6 cm H 2 O) or to bi-level NCPAP (group B; n=20, lower CPAP level=4.5 cm H 2 O, higher CPAP level=8 cm H 2 O), provided with variable fl ow devices. Infl ammatory response was the primary outcome; serum cytokines were measured on days 1 and 7 of life. Length of ventilation, oxygen dependency, need for intubation and occurrence of air leaks were considered as secondary outcomes.

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Preterm infants need the achievement of adequate lung volume. Lung recruitment maneuver (LRM) is applied during high-frequency oscillatory ventilation. We investigated the effect of an LRM with positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) on oxygenation and outcomes in infants conventionally ventilated for respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). Preterm infants in assisted controlled ventilation+volume guarantee for RDS after surfactant randomly received an LRM (group A) or did not (group B). LRM entailed increments of 0.2 cm H (2)O PEEP every 5 minutes, until fraction of inspired oxygen (Fi O(2))=0.25. Then PEEP was reduced and the lung volume was set on the deflation limb of the pressure/volume curve. When saturation of peripheral oxygen fell and Fi O(2) rose, we reincremented PEEP until Sp O(2) became stable. Group A ( N=10) and group B ( N=10) infants were similar: gestational age 25 ± 2 versus 25 ± 2 weeks; body weight 747 ± 233 versus 737 ± 219 g; clinical risk index for babies 9.8 versus 8.1; initial Fi O(2) 56 ± 24 versus 52 ± 21, respectively. LRM began at 86 ± 69 minutes of age and lasted for 61 ± 18 minutes. Groups A and B showed different max PEEP during the first 12 hours of life (6.1 ± 0.3 versus 5.3 ± 0.3 cm H (2)O, P=0.00), time to lowest Fi O(2) (94 ± 24 versus 435 ± 221 minutes; P=0.000) and O(2) dependency (29 ± 12 versus 45 ± 17 days; P=0.04). No adverse events and no differences in the outcomes were observed. LRM led to the earlier lowest Fi O(2) of the first 12 hours of life and a shorter O (2) dependency.

More than 50% of children who survive prematurity have an atypical course of development at school age, as environmental demands become more demanding. This study examines the effects of preterm birth on the cognitive, behavioral and socioemotional development of 185 children at ages five and seven years. Weaknesses were found in attention, working memory, processing speed and the ability to correctly interpret emotions at both ages five and seven. Significant correlations were found in regression and moderation models. These findings suggest that school-age children who were preterm infants are at increased risk of exhibiting impairments in several developmental domains that may affect their overall quality of life.