Diagnosis and management of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome in Japan: A national survey.

BACKGROUND: Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is characterized by a lack of lung surfactant; therefore, biochemical evidence of surfactant deficiency is needed to diagnose RDS. European guidelines recommend surfactant administration when patients need fraction of inspired oxygen exceeding 0.3 on continuous positive airway pressure or intubation. We hypothesized that the European guidelines for surfactant administration were not adopted in Japan because of the lack of RDS diagnosis. This study aimed to investigate neonatologists' attitudes and practices regarding the diagnosis and management of RDS in Japan. METHODS: A mail-based survey regarding the diagnosis and management of RDS was conducted at 111 level III or ΙV neonatal intensive care units in Japan. The questionnaire was completed by the person in charge of each unit. RESULTS: The overall response rate for the questionnaire was 91% (101/111 centers). All respondents referred to chest radiography, and the majority (83%) of respondents referred to stable microbubble rating (SMR) for establishing the diagnosis of RDS. Surfactant administration was chiefly based on clinical conditions, chest radiography, and/or SMR. Most units in Japan do not adopt the European criteria for surfactant administration. CONCLUSION: In Japan, chest radiography and/or SMR are commonly used for the diagnosis of RDS and as the rationale for surfactant administration. Further studies from other countries are required to establish the ideal criteria for surfactant administration.

Gravity-induced loss of aeration and atelectasis development in the preterm lung: a serial sonographic assessment.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of gravity and time on the changes in the distribution patterns of loss of aeration and atelectasis development in very preterm infants. STUDY DESIGN: Preterm infants less than 32 weeks gestation were included in this prospective, observational study. Infants were assessed via serial lung ultrasound (LUS) score in four lung zones, performed on days 7, 14, 21, and 28 after birth. RESULT: Eighty-eight patients were enrolled. There was a significant main effect of gravity (P < 0.001) and time (P = 0.01) on the LUS score between gravity-dependent lungs and non-dependent lungs. Moreover, there was a significant main effect of gravity (P = 0.003) on atelectasis development between the lungs. CONCLUSION: Gravity and time have an impact on the changes in the distribution patterns of gravity-induced lung injuries in preterm infants.

Lung Ultrasound for Predicting the Respiratory Outcome in Patients with Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the utility of lung ultrasound (LUS) with whole chest scanning for predicting respiratory outcomes in patients with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). STUDY DESIGN: We performed a prospective observational study. Preterm infants of less than 32 weeks' gestational age requiring oxygen therapy at 28 days of life were included. LUS was performed on day 28, at 36 weeks' postmenstrual age, and at the time of discharge. Each lung was divided into three regions by the anterior and posterior axillary lines and received an LUS score of 0 to 3 points; the total score was obtained by adding the six regional scores. The classification of BPD was determined based on the National Institute of Child and Human Development. The outcomes of this study were the development of moderate-to-severe BPD and the need for home oxygen therapy (HOT). RESULTS: We enrolled 87 patients; 39, 33, and 15 infants had mild, moderate, and severe BPD, respectively. The LUS score correlated with BPD severity and exhibited an improvement trend with time toward the point of discharge. LUS at 28 days of life predicted moderate-to-severe BPD with an area under the curve of 0.95 (95% confidence interval: 0.91-0.99) and HOT with an area under the curve of 0.95 (95% confidence interval: 0.81-1.0). CONCLUSION: LUS with whole chest scanning is useful for predicting respiratory outcomes in patients with BPD, as well as for understanding BPD severity or clinical improvement trends. KEY POINTS: · LUS predicts respiratory outcomes in patients with BPD.. · LUS indicates BPD severity.. · LUS can show clinical improvement with time..