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Background: Prone positioning is a common practice after vaginal birth promoting skin to skin contact and has been associated with improved oxygenation in mechanically ventilated neonates in the recent analysis. Neonates of women not in labor delivered via C-section are at increased risk of respiratory distress; it is unclear whether vigorous neonates without a need of resuscitation would benefit from prone positioning immediately after birth.Objective: To determine whether prone positioning of vigorous term neonates for the first 5 min after scheduled cesarean delivery will decrease the incidence of respiratory distress and therapeutic interventions, characterized by the frequency and duration of respiratory support (RS).Design/methods: In a single center, randomized parallel clinical trial, vigorous term neonates delivered via scheduled cesarean delivery were positioned prone or supine and their heart rate, oxygen saturation and signs of respiratory distress were recorded at 1-min intervals for the first 5 min. Infants not reaching target oxygen saturations suggested by the neonatal resuscitation guidelines received RS via Neopuff in supine position; respiratory support was discontinued once oxygen saturation targets were met and infant was free of respiratory symptoms. Primary outcomes measured were frequency and duration of RS, secondary outcomes were admission to the NICU for respiratory distress, length of stay, heart rate and oxygen saturation during the initial 5 min of life.Results: Two hundred twenty-five neonates in prone and 231 in supine position completed the study out of 500 randomized subjects. Frequency of RS (31 versus 30%, p = .93), mean RS duration (4.08 versus 4.39 min; p = .71), frequency of admission to the NICU (5% in both groups; p = .95) and mean length of stay (0.14 versus 0.28 days; p = .42) were similar between the prone and supine groups. The supine cohort had higher initial oxygen saturation (p = .02) as well as heart rate (p = .004).Conclusions: Prone or supine positioning of term neonates after scheduled cesarean delivery resulted in comparable respiratory outcomes including the need for resuscitation in the first minutes of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Noninvasive high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (NHFOV) keeps the lung open with add-on effective rhythmic oscillations in addition to allowing spontaneous breathing. This review aims at reconstructing the different pieces of available research articles and evidence into a more solid collective evidence for NHFOV in preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS).Methods: A thorough systemic search was conducted in Medline, Embase, Web of Science, Google Scholar, CINAHL, and Cochrane. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on preterm infants with RDS comparing NHFOV with nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) in terms of PCO2 change, need for ventilation, duration of respiratory support, mortality air leak, or BPD were included. Data quality assessment and meta-analyses were carried out.Results: Five RCTs involving 270 preterm infants included in the review. PCO2 relatively decreased on NHFOV (MD = 3.84, confidence interval (CI) 7.32-0.35, p = .03). On the other hand, relative risk (RR) of intubation was unquestionably decreased with NHFOV in comparison with NCPAP (RR  =  0.43, CI 0.25-0.75, p = .003) without statistical heterogeneity I2 = 0%. Although the risk of mortality was less in NHFOV, the difference was statistically insignificant (RR = 0.72, CI 0.24-2.18, p = .56). Other outcomes reported in single studies only. Duration of respiratory support was significantly shorter in NHFOV compared with NCPAP (37.35 ± 8.96 versus 49.77 ± 10.33, p = .009), whereas air leak and BPD were reported in very few cases without a significant difference between the two interventions.Conclusions: NHFOV improved the PCO2 elimination and decreased the risk of intubation without a significant change in mortality compared with NCPAP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To compare nasal mask with binasal prongs in delivering bubble continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) for reducing need of invasive ventilation in VLBW infants: randomized controlled trial.Methods: In this randomized control trial 178 infants were enrolled, 90 were randomized to nasal mask group and 88 to nasal prong group for delivering bubble CPAP. Preterm neonates between 26 and 32 weeks of gestational age requiring CPAP for respiratory distress within 6 h of life were assessed for eligibility and were included if neonates had spontaneous respiratory efforts with respiratory distress in the form of tachypnea (respiratory rate >60/min), intercostal/subcostal retractions, grunting (audible with/without stethoscope), Silverman Anderson score ≥3, increased respiratory efforts or cyanosis. Infants received either nasal mask or binasal prongs for delivery of bubble CPAP. The primary outcome was the need for mechanical ventilation in first 72 h of life.Results: Baseline characteristics were comparable between the two groups. There was significant reduction in incidence of CPAP failure [15 (16.6%) versus 26 (29.5%); RR 0.47 (95% CI 0.23-0.97), p = .04]; nasal trauma (any grade) [14 (15.9%) versus 38 (43.2%); RR 0.26 (95% CI 0.12-0.52), p = .0002]; nasal trauma grade I [12 (13.3%) versus 23 (26.1%); RR 0.43 (95% CI 0.20-0.94), p = .03]; nasal trauma grade II [1 (1.1%) versus 10 (11.3%); RR 0.08 (95% CI 0.01-0.70), p = .02]; nasal trauma severe grade (II and III) [2 (2.2%) versus 15 (17.0%);RR 0.11 (95% CI 0.02-0.49), p = .004] and bronchopulmonary dysplasia [4 (4.4%) versus 12 (13.6%); RR 0.30 (95% CI 0.10-0.95), p = .04] in nasal mask group when compared to nasal prong group.Conclusion: Nasal mask leads to significant reduction in need for mechanical ventilation in initial 72 h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study is to compare the clinical outcomes at 24 months postmenstrual age of two populations receiving beractant replacement therapy using less invasive surfactant administration (LISA) versus intubation, administration of surfactant, and early extubation (INSURE). Hospital admission requirements, psychomotor development, and respiratory and neurological outcomes were studied.Study Design: This was a single-center, retrospective, and descriptive study with a sample of 60 patients (30 for each group) on nasal continuous positive airway pressure during the first 3 days of life, requiring surfactant administration.Results: We found no significant differences between both groups on psychomotor development and respiratory and neurological outcomes.Conclusion: Compared to INSURE technique, the administration of surfactant by LISA is feasible and safe and reduces invasive mechanical ventilation exposure with no differences in the follow-up neurodevelopmental and respiratory outcomes at 24 postmenstrual age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is one of the main causes of mortality in premature neonates. Treatment of these neonates with invasive mechanical ventilation has side effects such as chronic pulmonary diseases. Noninvasive ventilation, such as nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) and nasal high-frequency oscillation ventilation (NHFOV), has shown to reduce the burden of chronic lung disease. NHFOV is a promising new mode of noninvasive ventilation and may reduce the need for mechanical ventilation and reduce possible complications. In this study, we hypothesized that early NHFOV would reduce the need for invasive respiratory support in comparison to NCPAP in preterm neonates with RDS.Methods: One hundred twenty-four neonates between 28 to 34 weeks of gestational age (GA) with RDS hospitalized at Imam Khomeini Hospital, Ahvaz in 2016 were included in this randomized controlled study. The primary outcomes were the failure of NHFOV and NCPAP within 72 h after birth. The secondary outcomes were the duration of invasive ventilation and possible side effects.Results: Out of 124 neonates in this study, 63 and 61 neonates were studied in the NHFOV and NCPAP groups, respectively. There were no significant differences between NHFOV (6.5%) and NCPAP (14.1%) groups in terms of rates of primary consequences (p = .13). However, the duration of noninvasive ventilation in NHFOV was significantly less than that of NCPAP group (p = .01).Conclusion: In our study group, preterm infants from 28 to 34 weeks of GA, NHFOV did not reduce the need for mechanical ventilation during the first 72 h after birth compared to NCPAP; however, the duration of noninvasive ventilation in the NHFOV group was significantly shorter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate surfactant effectiveness for the treatment of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in late preterm infants.Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of infants born between 34+0 and 36+6  weeks of gestation admitted for respiratory failure in seven perinatal centers from January 2010 to December 2014. We evaluated changes of FiO2, PaO2 and a/APO2 in surfactant-treated patients, and the need and duration of MV, the duration of noninvasive respiratory support, stay in NICU and in hospital in surfactant-treated and untreated late preterm infants with RDS alone.Results: We studied 562 infants with RDS, 252 (45%) were treated with surfactant and 310 (55%) were not. FiO2, PaO2 and a/APO2 significantly improved after surfactant treatment. The adjusted odds ratio for the need of MV and the adjusted differences of duration of noninvasive respiratory support, and of NICU and hospital stay were not different in the surfactant and non-surfactant groups.Conclusions: Surfactant therapy was followed by a quick and persisting significant improvement of respiratory function in late preterm infants with RDS. Surfactant did not improve short-term outcomes in our population probably because other factors such as the gestational age, occurrence of complications and poor feeding play a relevant role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To describe the incidence, indications and clinical outcomes following high pressures on noninvasive respiratory support (NRS) in preterm neonates.Study Design: Retrospective cohort study of all neonates with BW <1.500 g admitted from July 2012 to June 2014 and placed on high noninvasive respiratory support (NRS), defined as mean airway pressure ≥10 cm H2O for at least 12 continuous hours using nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) and/or nasal high-frequency ventilation (NIHFV). Clinical and physiological outcomes following high NRS were ascertained. Median (IQR) and percentages were used to describe continuous and categorical data, respectively.Results: There were 131 instances of high NRS use in 70 of 315 eligible infants. Most common indication was post-extubation, observed in 37% (49/131) of high NRS instances. Intubation was avoided in 71% (93/131) of instances in the first 7 days following high NRS initiation. There were no physiological perturbations in heart rate, blood pressure or oxygen requirement. Furthermore, there were no instances of lung hyperinflation, pneumothoraces or spontaneous intestinal perforation following high NRS.Conclusion: The use of high NRS pressure was followed by avoidance of intubation in the majority of cases without adverse effects. Further research on high NRS use including its indications, clinical outcomes and safety profile is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of respiratory support and surfactant in incidence, management and outcome of neonatal hypoxemic respiratory failure (NRF) in Chinese emerging regional neonatal-perinatal care system in the era of universal health insurance policy.Study Design: Clinical data of NRF were prospectively collected in 12 consecutive months from 2011 to 2012 in 12 neonatal intensive care units (NICU) in major cities of Northwest China. NRF was defined as hypoxemia requiring nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) or intratracheal ventilation combined with surfactant for at least 24 h, with associated risk factors, mortality rate and major co-morbidities analyzed.Results: Among 9816 admissions, there were 1324 NRF cases with 60.2% being preterm. The incidence of NRF was 13.4% with a mortality of 15.5%. The major underlying diseases were respiratory distress syndrome (RDS, 38.9%) and pneumonia/sepsis (38.0%). Only 15.9% of NRF and 33.8% of RDS received surfactant, which contributed to >70% and >85% survival in RDS patients of birth weight (BW) < 1500 g and >1500 g, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that premature rupture of membrane ≥ 24 h, very low BW and gestational age < 32 weeks, resuscitation at delivery, illness severity at admission, intratracheal ventilation and sepsis were the independent risk factors for the mortality of NRF. The length and cost of NICU stay for survivors reflected care burden in the era of universal health insurance.Conclusions: Surfactant significantly improved the survival of neonates with NRF and RDS, reflecting the respiratory care standard in emerging regional neonatal-perinatal care network with limited resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of the study is to evaluate extracorporeal life support system (ECLS) employed in neonates in pediatric cardiac intensive care unit.Material and Methods: Twenty-five neonates that required ECLS in between November 2010 and November 2015 were evaluated.Results: The median age was 12 days (range 3-28 days) and the median body weight was 3 kg (range 2.5-5 kg). Venoarterial ECLS was performed in all of the cases. Ascendan aorta-right atrial cannulation in 22 patients and neck cannulation in three patients were performed. The reason for ECLS was E-CPR in two patients, inability to wean from cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in seven patients, respiratory insufficiency and hypoxia in nine patients, low cardiac output (LCOS) in seven patients. Median duration of ECLS was four days (range 1-15). Hemorrhagic complications developed in 15, renal complications in 13, pulmonary complications in 12, infectious complications in 11, neurologic complications in three and mechanical complications in two of the patients. Weaning was successful in 15 of the patients. Eleven patients were successfully discharged.Conclusion: ECLS is an important treatment option that is performed successfully in many centers around the world to maintain life support in patients unresponsive to medical treatment. The utilization of this modality especially in newborns with congenital heart disease should be taken into consideration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To evaluate efficacy and safety of delivery room (DR) sustained lung inflation (SLI) in resuscitation of preterm neonates.Methods: Randomized Controlled Trial including 112 preterm infants randomized to either SLI (n = 57) using T-piece resuscitator [maximum three inflations with maximum pressure of 30 cmH2O for 15 s followed by continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) of 5-7 cmH2O] or conventional bag/mask inflation (CBMI) (n = 55) using traditional self-inflating bag (maximum pressure of 40 cmH2O at a rate of 40-60 per min). Failure was defined as the need for DR or first 72 h intubation. Cord and 2-h post-resuscitation blood samples were collected to measure interleukin (IL)-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α levels before and after intervention.Results: SLI was associated with significantly higher success rate compared to CBMI [75.4 versus 54.5%; p = 0.017], lower need for DR intubation [5.3% versus 23.6%; (X2 = 7.7; p = 0.005)], higher 5-min-Apgar score (median 8 versus 7; p = 0.018), shorter duration on nasal-CPAP (p = 0.017), and non-significantly different air leak (7% versus 11%; p = 0.3) and bronchopulmonary dysplasia rates among survivors (2% versus 11%; p = 0.09). Post-resuscitation IL-1β plasma levels increased significantly in CBMI (p = 0.009) and not in SLI group.Conclusion: Delivery room SLI is more effective than intermittent bag and mask inflation for improving short-term respiratory outcome in preterm infants, without significant adverse effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

l-Arginine (l-Arg) is the precursor of nitric oxide which plays an important role on pulmonary circulation and pulmonary vascular tone. Earlier studies suggested thatl-Arg levels in preterm newborns with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) were low due to its consumption andl-Arg supplementation may reduce the severity of RDS. Our aim was detect the effect of the parenterallyl-Arg supplementation on RDS severity. The subjects were chosen between preterm newborns (gestational age <34 weeks) (n = 30). Twenty of the subjects were diagnosed with permaturity and RDS, and 10 of the subjects were healthy preterm newborns. Ten of the subjects was takenl-Arg (1.5 mmol/kg/d) in addition to routine RDS treatment and assumed as “Group 1”. In this group, dailyl-Arg supplementation was started end of the first day, and continued at end of fifth day. The others of the subjects diagnosed with RDS was take routine RDS treatment and assumed as “Group 2”. Healthy preterm newbors assumed as “Group 3”. Blood collections forl-Arg levels via tandem mass spectrometry were made in first day and repeated on the seventh days. Oxygenation index was used to determine severity of RDS.l-Arg consentrations in Group 1 were 8.7 ± 4.1 μM/L and 11.9 ± 5.0 μM/L in first and seventh day, respectively.l-Arg consentrations were 12.6±4.5 μM/Land 10.9 ± 5.4 μM/L in Group 2 and 8.6 ± 5.1 μM/L and 9.4 ± 4.1 μM/L in Group 3. There is no correlation betweenl-Arg concentrations and OI also duration of the mechanical ventilation of the subjects in patient groups (Group 1 and 2). [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Objective: To compare the severity of early respiratory distress in late preterm (LPT) versus term infants.Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted in a tertiary care neonatal unit in Thailand. Levels of respiratory support, duration of intubation, and short term morbidities were compared between LPT and term infants.Results: Two-hundred nineteen LPT and 564 term infants were included over a period of 2 years (2009-2011). 106 (48.4%) LPTs versus 58 (10.3%) term infants received non-invasive ventilation or intubation [p < 0.001; OR (95% CI) 8.2 (5.6, 12.0)]. The intubation rate was 24.7% in LPTs versus 7.3% in term infants [p < 0.001; OR (95% CI) 4.18 (2.7, 6.5)]. The duration of intubation was longer in LPT infants (median 5.0 versus 2.0 days. p = 0.03). There was a non-significant trend towards a higher mortality rate in the LPT group [p = 0.14; OR (95% CI) 3.9 (0.7, 23.5)].Conclusions: This is one of three published prospective studies on the topic. The study design lends more robust credence to the results previously identified only in retrospective and systematic reviews. LPT infants are more likely to require positive-pressure ventilation support and incur a longer duration of intubation. A trend towards greater mortality is prevalent compared to term infants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is a major cause of mortality and morbidity among preterm infants. Although the INSURE (INtubation, SURfactant administration, Estubation) technique for surfactant replacement therapy is so far the gold standard method, over the last years new approaches have been studied, i.e. less invasive surfactant administration (LISA) or minimally invasive surfactant therapy (MIST). Here we propose an originally modified MIST, called CALMEST (Catheter And Laryngeal Mask Endotracheal Surfactant Therapy), using a particular laryngeal mask as a guide for a thin catheter to deliver surfactant directly in the trachea.Materials and Methods: We performed a preliminary study on a mannequin and a subsequent in vivo pilot trial.Results and Conclusions: This novel procedure is quick, effective and well tolerated and might represent an improvement in reducing neonatal stress. Ultimately, CALMEST offers an alternative approach that could be extremely useful for medical staff with low expertise in laryngoscopy and intubation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) for RDS in extremely/very low birth-weight infants represents the new challenge for neonatologists. In this regard, data comparing the effectiveness of Bi-Level-NCPAP (BiPAP) versus nasal synchronized intermittent positive pressure ventilation (NSIPPV) as primary mode of treatment for RDS are lacking. Study design: We conducted a retrospective study from December 2007 to December 2010 in seventy-eight infants, who received NIV (N-SIPPV: 33; BiPAP: 45). The primary outcomes were the length and failure of NIV. Secondary outcomes were adverse short-long term pulmonary outcomes, multiple doses of surfactant and others. Results: There were no significant differences ( p > 0.05) between the two different NIV modes. Conclusion: The present findings suggest that N-SIPPV and BiPAP gives similar results in the RDS treatment. We did not find a benefit of one over the other ventilation mode and both could be constitute a valid option to conventional mechanical ventilation. The theoretical benefits of these two different methods of NIV are tidal volume enhancement, improvements of the functional residual capacity and of the mean airway pressure and reducing apnea episodes. Further randomized studies to assess the advantages and the efficacy of different methods of NIV for the treatment of the RDS are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: It is suggested that there may be expanded use of surfactant replacement for the neonatal diseases such as meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS), pneumonia and possibly bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Objective: To evaluate the characteristics and short-term outcome of the neonates given exogenous surfactant because of the diseases other than respiratory disease syndrome (RDS). Methods: This retrospective study included 35 neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit from January 2012 to December 2012 for an expanded use of surfactant. Data related to gestational age, birth weight, gender and perinatal risk factors were obtained from the patients' records. The short-term prognosis was also noted. Results: The diagnosis was sepsis in 16 patients, eight MAS, seven transient tachypnea of the newborns (TTN) and four BPD. Mean gestational age was 35.6 ± 4.5 weeks and mean birth weight was 2661 ± 981 g. Of overall cases, 65% were boys and 35% girls. The mortality rate was 17%. Of six fatal cases, three was with BPD, two with sepsis and one with MAS. Conclusion: We think that surfactant replacement may be life saver in the neonatal diseases other than RDS such as BPD, MAS and sepsis by rapidly improving oxygenation. Further investigation is necessary to validate the significance of expanded use of surfactant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]