The effect of NHFOV on hemodynamics in mild and moderately preterm neonates: a randomized clinical trial.

The aim of this study is to study cardio-respiratory effects of nasal high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (NHFOV) vs. NCPAP as an initial mode of ventilation in moderate-late-preterm infants. A randomized controlled trial was conducted in NICU of Alexandria University Maternity Hospital (AUMH). One-hundred late-moderate-preterm infants were randomly assigned to either NHFOV-group (n = 50) or NCPAP-group (n = 50). For both groups, functional echocardiography was performed in the first 24 h to detect hemodynamic changes and respiratory outcome was monitored throughout the hospital stay. The main outcomes were hemodynamic measurements and myocardial function using functional echocardiography of those infants along with the respiratory outcome and complications. Kaplan-Meier survival plot was used representing time course of NCPAP and NHFOV failure. Left ventricular output values were not significantly different in both groups with median 202 ml/kg /min and IQR (176-275) in NCPAP-group and 226 ml/kg/min with IQR (181-286) in NHFOV group. Nevertheless, ejection fraction and fractional shortening were significantly higher in NHFOV-group with P 0.001. The time to weaning, the time to reach 30%-FIO2, the need for invasive ventilation, oxygen support duration, and maximal-FIO2 were significantly more in NCAPAP group.     Conclusion: NHFOV is an effective and promising tool of non-invasive-ventilation which can be used as a primary modality of respiratory support in preterm infants with variable forms of respiratory distress syndrome without causing detrimental effect on hemodynamics or significant respiratory complications.     Trial registration: NCT05706428 (registered on January 21, 2023). What is Known: • NHFOV might be beneficial as a secondary mode of ventilation and might have an impact on hemodynamics. What is New: • NHFOV can be used as an initial mode of ventilation with CDP beyond the reported pressure limits of CPAP without causing neither CO2 retention nor adverse hemodynamic consequences.

Effect of enteral erythropoietin on feeding-related complications in preterm newborns: A pilot randomized controlled study.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: To evaluate the effects of enteral administration of recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) on feeding-related complications in preterm infants. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This double-blind, randomized controlled pilot study enrolled 120 preterm infants born ≤ 32 weeks' gestation who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit in a tertiary hospital; 60 patients randomly received recombinant human erythropoietin while the other 60 received placebo. Newborns who underwent cardiopulmonary resuscitation, infants with genetic syndromes, infants with inborn errors of metabolism, infants with major congenital or acquired gastrointestinal tract malformations, infants with previous use of parenteral growth factors such as recombinant human erythropoietin and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimuating factor (GM-CSF) and infants previously treated with intravenous immunoglobulin were excluded. Overall, 48 patients withdrew from the study because of intravenous haematopoietic growth factor intake or death before treatment was completed. A total of 72 preterm infants remained in the study: 36 preterm infants in the erythropoietin (EPO) group, and 36 preterm infants in the placebo group. The day that enteral feeding was successfully started, the time to establishing one-half, two-thirds, and full enteral feedings (reaching at least 150 mL/kg/day), the number of episodes of feeding intolerance, the time to regain birth weight and the incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) were recorded. RESULTS: Both groups showed no significant difference in the time to achieve one-half, two-thirds, or full enteral feeding, no signs of feeding intolerance, and no cases of NEC were recorded. CONCLUSION: Enteral erythropoietin does not appear to affect feeding intolerance or NEC incidence.