Consecutive study of early CPAP-application in hyaline membrane disease

Abstract

Continuous positive airways pressure (CPAP) has been applied with a face-chamber in 74 infants with hyaline membrane disease (HMD) before 10 h of age. The total survival rate was 91% and the complication rate of pneumothorax was low (5%). The incidence of long term developmental and neurological sequelae was also low (4%). Among the 19 surviving very low birth-weight (VLBW) infants below 1501 g, only one has shown neurological sequelae at follow-up examinations after 18 months to 3 years of age. The incidence of cerebellar hemorrhage was not higher in infants treated with the CPAP face chamber than in infants not receiving assisted ventilation. Bronchopulmonary dysplasia did not occur in any infant treated with CPAP face chamber only. The main advantages with the face chamber technique are: no disturbance of glottis function, no mucosal damage and tube obstruction, or sudden pressure drops, as seen with other modes of CPAP application. The face chamber technique is suitable for early application of CPAP in infants with HMD as it is efficient, without hazards, and easily applied.

EVALUATION OF MECHANICAL VENTILATION IN NEWBORN INFANTS: I. Techniques and survival rates

“…After 1974, HMD infants were treated with early applied face chamber CPAP (2). This treatment has generally reduced the need for IPPV in HMD, but to a lesser degree in VLBW infants and referred patients arriving in a poor condition (17). A 4-fold increase of referred HMD patients to our NICU was the main cause of the increased use of IPPV in this group.…”

Fetal pH and postnatal adaptation in preterm vaginal deliveries

“…After the initial hour when a standardized program was applied all infants took part in the normal routine care in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) [15,27]. Besides the study group of preterm infants a control group of 13 term vaginally born infants without risk factors in pregnancy or complications in delivery was followed with similar examinations.…”

Delivery and long—term outcome of very low birth weight infants

“…spired oxygen, were started on continuous positive airways (1). Intermittent positive pressure ventilation (IPPV) was started in infants with recurrent apnea with bradycardia and/or persistent severe hypoxia despite high inspired oxygen concentration and CPAP treatment (12,20). During the whole intensive care treatment, the parents were encouraged to visit their baby daily or as often as possible.…”