The physiologic definition of BPD reduced the overall rate of BPD and reduced the variation among centers. Significant center differences in the impact of the physiologic definition were seen, and differences remained even with the use of this standardized definition. The magnitude of the change in BPD rate is comparable to the magnitude of treatment effects seen in some clinical trials in BPD. The physiologic definition of BPD facilitates the measurement of BPD as an outcome in clinical trials and the comparison between and within centers over time.

Objectives To identify variables associated with successful elective extubation, and to determine neonatal morbidities associated with extubation failure in extremely preterm neonates. Study design This study was a secondary analysis of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Neonatal Research Network’s Surfactant, Positive Pressure, and Oxygenation Randomized Trial that included extremely preterm infants born at 240/7 to 276/7 weeks’ gestation. Patients were randomized either to a permissive ventilatory strategy (continuous positive airway pressure group) or intubation followed by early surfactant (surfactant group). There were prespecified intubation and extubation criteria. Extubation failure was defined as reintubation within 5 days of extubation. Results Of 1316 infants in the trial, 1071 were eligible; 926 infants had data available on extubation status; 538 were successful and 388 failed extubation. The rate of successful extubation was 50% (188/374) in the continuous positive airway pressure group and 63% (350/552) in the surfactant group. Successful extubation was associated with higher 5-minute Apgar score, and pH prior to extubation, lower peak fraction of inspired oxygen within the first 24 hours of age and prior to extubation, lower partial pressure of carbon dioxide prior to extubation, and non-small for gestational age status after adjustment for the randomization group assignment. Infants who failed extubation had higher adjusted rates of mortality (OR 2.89), bronchopulmonary dysplasia (OR 3.06), and death/bronchopulmonary dysplasia (OR 3.27). Conclusions Higher 5-minute Apgar score, and pH prior to extubation, lower peak fraction of inspired oxygen within first 24 hours of age, lower partial pressure of carbon dioxide and fraction of inspired oxygen prior to extubation, and nonsmall for gestational age status were associated with successful extubation. Failed extubation was associated with significantly higher likelihood of mortality and morbidities. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00233324.

Objective To characterize actual achieved patterns of oxygenation in appropriate (AGA) versus small (SGA) for gestational age infants randomized to a lower (85–89%) versus higher (91–95%) oxygen saturation target in the Surfactant, Positive Pressure and Oxygen Trial (SUPPORT). To determine the association between achieved oxygen saturation levels and survival in AGA and SGA infants enrolled in SUPPORT. Study design Median oxygen saturation and intermittent hypoxemia events (<80%, 20sec–5min) were documented in 1054 infants of 24–27 6/7wks gestation while receiving supplemental oxygen during the first three days of life. Results Lower target SGA infants had the lowest oxygen saturation and highest incidence of IH during the first three days of life. The lowest quartile of oxygen saturation (≤92%) during the first three days of life was associated with lower 90 day survival for both AGA and SGA infants. An increased incidence of IH events during the first three days of life was associated with lower 90 day survival only in SGA infants. Conclusion Lower achieved oxygen saturation during the first three days of life was associated with lower 90 day survival in extremely preterm infants. SGA infants had enhanced vulnerability to lower oxygen saturation targets as evidenced by lower achieved oxygen saturation and an association between increased IH events and lower survival.

BACKGROUND No prospective cohort study of high-risk children has used rigorous exposure assessment and optimal diagnostic procedures to examine the perinatal antecedents of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), separately among those with and without cognitive impairment. OBJECTIVE To identify perinatal factors associated with increased risk for ASD with and without intellectual disability (ID: IQ < 70) in children born extremely preterm. STUDY DESIGN This prospective multi-center (14 institutions in 5 states) birth cohort study included children born at 23-27 weeks gestation in 2002-2004 who were evaluated for ASD and ID at age 10 years. Pregnancy information was obtained from medical records and by structured maternal interview. Cervical-vaginal ‘infection’ refers to maternal report of bacterial infection (n = 4), bacterial vaginosis (n = 30), yeast infection (n = 62), mixed infection (n = 4) or other/unspecified infection (n=43; e.g., chlamydia, trichomonas or herpes, etc.). We do not know the extent to which ‘infection’ per se was confirmed by microbial colonization. We use the terms ‘fetal growth restriction’ and ‘small for gestational age’ interchangeably in light of the ongoing challenge to discern pathologically from constitutionally small newborns. Severe fetal growth-restriction was defined as a birth weight Z-score for gestational age at delivery < - 2 (i.e., 2 standard deviations or more below the median birth weight in a referent sample that excluded pregnancies delivered for preeclampsia or fetal indications). Participants were classified into four groups based on whether or not they met rigorous diagnostic criteria for ASD and ID (ASD+/ID−, ASD+/ID+, ASD−/ID+ and ASD−/ID−). Temporally-ordered multinomial logistic regression models were used to examine the information conveyed by perinatal factors about increased risk for ASD and/or ID (ASD+/ID−, ASD+/ID+ and ASD−/ID+). RESULTS 889 of 966 (92%) children recruited were assessed at age 10 years, of whom 857 (96%) were assessed for ASD; of these, 840 (98%) children were assessed for ID. ASD+/ID− was diagnosed in 3.2% (27/840), ASD+/ID+ in 3.8% (32/840), and ASD−/ID+ in 8.5% (71/840). Maternal report of presumed cervical-vaginal ‘infection’ during pregnancy was associated with increased risk of ASD+/ID+ (odd ratio [OR], 2.7; 95% CI, 1.2-6.4). The lowest gestational age category (23-24 weeks) was associated with increased risk of ASD+/ID+ (OR, 2.9; 95% CI, 1.3-6.6) and ASD+/ID− (OR, 4.4; 95% CI, 1.7-11). Severe fetal growth restriction was strongly associated with increased risk for ASD+/ID− (OR, 9.9; 95% CI, 3.3-30), whereas peripartum maternal fever was uniquely associated with increased risk of ASD−/ID+ (OR, 2.9; 95% CI, 1.2-6.7). CONCLUSION Our study confirms that low gestational age is associated with increased risk for ASD irrespective of intellectual ability, whereas severe fetal growth restriction is strongly associated with ASD without ID. Maternal report of cervical-vaginal infection is associated with increased risk of ASD with ID, and per...

Objective To evaluate the difference in 10-year neurocognitive outcomes among extremely low gestational age newborns without bacteremia or with suspected or confirmed late-onset bacteremia. Study design Neurocognitive function was evaluated at 10 years of age in 889 children born at <28 weeks of gestation and followed from birth. Definite (culture positive) late-onset bacteremia during postnatal weeks 2–4 was identified in 223 children and 129 had suspected bacteremia. Results Infants with the lowest gestational age and birth weight Z-score had the highest prevalence of definite and suspected late-onset bacteremia. When compared with peers with no or suspected bacteremia, infants with definite bacteremia performed worse on tests of general cognitive ability, language, academic achievement, and executive function, even when adjusting for potential confounders. Adjustment for low IQ attenuated associations between bacteremia and all dysfunctions at 10 years. Children who had suspected bacteremia did not differ appreciably from children who did not have any evidence of bacteremia. The motor domain was unaffected. Conclusions Extremely low gestational age newborns who had definite late bacteremia during postnatal weeks 2–4 are at heightened risk of neurocognitive limitations at 10 years of age.