Noninvasive High-Frequency Oscillatory Ventilation: A Retrospective Chart Review.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to review the feasibility of nasal high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (NHFOV) in preventing reintubation in preterm infants. STUDY DESIGN: This is a retrospective cohort study of all premature newborn infants placed on NHFOV in a single-center neonatal intensive care unit. RESULTS: Twenty-seven patients (birth weight: 765 ± 186 g, gestational age: 28 ± 2 weeks) were commenced on NHFOV on 32 occasions. NHFOV was used immediately postextubation as the primary mode of noninvasive ventilation (NIV; prophylaxis) in 10 of 32 occasions and as "rescue" (failure of NCPAP or biphasic CPAP) in 22 of 32 occasions. Treatment with NHFOV was successful in 22 occasions (69%) while on 10 occasions (31%) reintubation was required within 72 hours. In the rescue group, there was significant reduction in the mean (standard deviation [SD]) number of apneas (0.9 ± 1.07 vs. 0.3 ± 0.29, p < 0.005), but there were no significant changes in the PCO2 level (52 [ ± 9.8] vs. 52 [ ± 8.6] mm Hg, p = 0.8), or the FiO2 requirement (0.39 ± 0.19 vs. 0.33 ± 0.10, p = 0.055) before and after commencing NHFOV, respectively. CONCLUSION: The use of NHFOV is feasible as a prophylactic or rescue mode of NIV following extubation and was associated with decrease in the number of apneas without significant changes in PCO2 or oxygen requirements. A well-designed randomized control trial is needed to determine the indications, clinical outcomes, and safety of this treatment modality. KEY POINTS: · NHFOV is a new and evolving mode of noninvasive ventilation.. · The use of NHFOV is feasible as a prophylactic or rescue mode of noninvasive ventilation.. · A well-designed randomized control is needed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of NHFOV safe..

Caffeine is a risk factor for osteopenia of prematurity in preterm infants: a cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Caffeine, the most commonly used medication in Neonatal Intensive Care Units, has calciuric and osteoclastogenic effects. METHODS: To examine the association between the cumulative dose and duration of therapy of caffeine and osteopenia of prematurity, a retrospective cohort study was conducted including premature infants less than 31 weeks and birth weight less than 1500 g. Osteopenia of prematurity was evaluated using chest X-rays on a biweekly basis over 12 weeks of hospitalization. RESULTS: The cohort included 109 infants. 51% had osteopenia of prematurity and 8% had spontaneous rib fractures. Using the generalized linear mixed model, caffeine dose and duration of caffeine therapy showed a strong association with osteopenia of prematurity. Steroids and vitamin D were also significantly correlated with osteopenia of prematurity while diuretic use did not show a statistically significant effect. CONCLUSION: The cumulative dose and duration of therapy of caffeine, as well as steroid are associated with osteopenia of prematurity in this cohort. Future studies are needed to confirm these findings and determine the lowest dose of caffeine needed to treat effectively apnea of prematurity.

Assessment of WINROP algorithm as screening tool for preterm infants in Manitoba to detect retinopathy of prematurity.

OBJECTIVE: Developing less invasive methods for early detection of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is vital to minimizing blindness in premature infants. Lofqvist and colleagues developed a computer-based ROP risk algorithm (WINROP) (https://winrop.com), which detects downtrends in postnatal weight gain that correlate with the development of sight-threatening ROP. The aim of this study is to investigate the sensitivity and specificity of the WINROP algorithm to detect vision-threatening ROP. METHODS: This is a retrospective chart review study between January 2008 and December 2013. This study was conducted in the neonatal intensive care unit in Children's Hospital at Health Sciences Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The study included preterm infants, less than 32 weeks' gestation, who were admitted to the hospital during the study period. The included 215 infants were eligible for ROP screening and had sufficient data to be entered into the WINROP algorithm. Infants were screened by a paediatric ophthalmologist for retinopathy of prematurity. The body weight of infants was measured weekly and entered into the WINROP algorithm; the sensitivity and the specificity of the WINROP algorithm were assessed. RESULTS: The mean gestational age was 28.6 ± 1.8 weeks. The mean body weight was 1244 ± 294 g. The sensitivity of the WINROP algorithm to detect vision-threatening retinopathy of prematurity in our cohort was 90% (P=0.021) with a specificity of 60% (P=0.002). CONCLUSION: The WINROP algorithm lacks sufficient sensitivity to be used clinically in our population. The algorithm needs to be reassessed in contemporary populations.

New modalities to deliver surfactant in premature infants: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

CONTEXT: Surfactant is the principle treatment of respiratory distress syndrome, but the ideal method of its administration remains controversial. The intubation, surfactant administration and extubation (InSurE) method is proven to work but is invasive. The objective of this systematic review is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the modalities of surfactant administration. METHODS: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE and CENTRAL (inception to December 2015) for randomized trials comparing new modalities with InSurE method. The primary outcome was mortality and development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). RESULTS: We screened 1837 citations and identified five unique trials were included; all were of unclear risk of bias. Four trials (400 infants) compared endotracheal catheters with InSurE, and one trial (70 infants) compared laryngeal masks (LMA) with InSurE. There was no significant difference between using endotracheal catheters compared with InSurE regarding infant mortality (risk ratio 1.05, 95% CI 0.57-1.94, 4 trials, 400 patients, p 0.87, I(2) 0%) or BPD (risk ratio 0.73, 95% CI 0.43-1.21, 4 trials, 400 patients, p 0.22, I(2) 0%). Adverse events were under-reported. CONCLUSION: The use of endotracheal catheters may provide comparable results to the InSurE method. There is limited evidence on the comparative efficacy of LMA.