Neurally adjusted ventilatory assist for rapid weaning in preterm infants.

BACKGROUND: Neurally adjusted ventilatory assist (NAVA) is a new mode of subject-triggered ventilation. Experience with the use of NAVA in preterm infants is limited. This study compared the effects of invasive mechanical ventilation with NAVA to conventional intermittent mandatory ventilation (CIMV) in terms of reducing the duration of oxygen requirement and invasive ventilator support in preterm infants. METHODS: This was a prospective study. We enrolled infants of less than 32 weeks' gestation who were then randomized to receive either NAVA or CIMV support during hospitalization. We recorded and analyzed data on the maternal history during pregnancy, use of medications, neonatal data at admission, neonatal diseases, and respiratory support in the neonatal intensive care unit. RESULTS: There were 26 preterm infants in the NAVA group and 27 preterm infants in the CIMV group. Significantly fewer infants in the NAVA group received supplemental oxygen at 28 days of age (12 [46%] vs. 21 [78%], p = 0.0365), and they required significantly fewer days of invasive ventilator support: 7.73 (± 2.39) vs. 17.26 (± 3.65), p = 0.0343. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with CIMV, NAVA appears to allow for more rapid weaning from invasive ventilation and decreases the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia, especially in preterm infants with severe respiratory distress syndrome treated with surfactants.

Neurally adjusted ventilatory assist in infants: A review article.

Neurally adjusted ventilatory assist (NAVA) and non-invasive (NIV)-NAVA are innovative modes of synchronized and proportional respiratory support. They can synchronize with the patients' breathing and promote patient comfort. Both techniques are increasingly being used these years, however experience with their use in newborns and premature infants in Taiwan is relatively few. Because increasing evidence supports the use of NAVA and NIV-NAVA in newborns and premature infants requiring respiratory assist to achieve better synchrony, the aim of this article is to discuss whether NAVA can provide better synchronization and comfort for ventilated newborns and premature babies. In a review of recent literature, we found that NAVA and NIV-NAVA appear to be superior to conventional invasive and non-invasive ventilation. Nevertheless, some of the benefits are controversial. For example, treatment failure in premature infants is common due to insufficient triggering of electrical activity of the diaphragm (EAdi) and frequent apnea, highlighting the differences between premature infants and adults in settings and titration. Further, we suggest how to adjust the settings of NAVA and NIV-NAVA in premature infants to reduce clinical adverse events and extubation failure. In addition to assist in the use of NAVA, EAdi can also serve as a continuous and real-time monitor of vital signs, assisting physicians in the administration of sedatives, evaluation of successful extubation, and as a reference for the patient's respiratory condition during special procedures.

Colistin inhalation monotherapy for ventilator-associated pneumonia of Acinetobacter baumannii in prematurity.

BACKGROUND: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) caused by Acinetobacter baumannii is increasing. It has a high mortality rate but experience in using inhaled colistin as monotherapy for VAP in children, especially pre-term infants, is limited. This study presents experiences using aerosolized colistin as monotherapy for VAP due to A. baumannii infection in pre-term infants. METHODS: Eight pre-term infants (gestational age 25-36 weeks) admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Taiwan from January 2006 to December 2010 who received inhaled colistin as monotherapy for VAP due to A. baumannii infection were retrospectively evaluated. Of the isolated microorganisms, five were multi-drug resistant strains of A. baumannii (MDR-AB) but all were sensitive to colistin. All patients received inhaled colistin at a dose of 1,000,000 IU (33.4 mg) twice daily for an average of 9.1 days (range, 4-22 days). RESULTS: All pre-term infants were cured, with A. baumannii eradicated from airway secretions. There were no clinical or laboratory adverse events related to colistin use. CONCLUSIONS: Aerosolized colistin may be used as monotherapy for VAP due to A. baumannii infection in pre-term infants. A larger controlled study is warranted to corroborate the findings.

Usefulness of desaturation index for the assessment of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in children.

OBJECTIVE: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) can result in learning, behavioral, and even growth problems in children. Overnight polysomnography (PSG) is the gold standard for the diagnosis of OSAS, but this diagnostic technique is time consuming and inconvenient. It is well documented that patients with OSAS experience oxygen desaturation during sleep. The purpose of this study was to determine if the level of oxygen desaturation can be used to predict OSAS in children. METHODS: This retrospective study included 148 children aged from 3 to 12 years; all were snorers and were suspected of having OSAS. Objective PSG parameters, nocturnal pulse oximeter data and subjective modified Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) scores were assessed. Mild, moderate, and severe OSAS was classified as apnea-hypopnea index (AHI)≥1 and <5, AHI≥5 and <10, and AHI≥10, respectively. RESULTS: Of the 148 children, 130 (87.8%) were diagnosed with OSAS. There was no correlation between the AHI and the modified ESS score (r = -0.048, p = 0.563). The desaturation index (DI) had the highest correlation with AHI (r = 0.886, p < 0.001). Using the DI cut-off values of 2.05 to predict OSAS in children had good positive predictive value of 98.1%. The optimal DI cut-off values for predicting the occurrence of mild, moderate, and severe OSAS were 2.05 (sensitivity: 77.7%; specificity: 88.9%), 3.50 (sensitivity: 83.8%; specificity: 86.5%) and 4.15 (sensitivity: 89.1%; specificity: 86.0%), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that DI, as determined using a nocturnal pulse oximeter, may be a good tool for predicting both the presence and the severity of OSAS in children.