ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the therapeutic effects of high-frequency oscillatory ventilation+pulmonary surfactant (HFOV+PS), conventional mechanical ventilation+pulmonary surfactant (CMV+PS), and conventional mechanical ventilation (CMV) alone for acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ALI/ARDS) in neonates.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 136 neonates with ALI/ARDS were enrolled, among whom 73 had ALI and 63 had ARDS. They were divided into HFOV+PS group (n=45), CMV+PS group (n=53), and CMV group (n=38). The neonates in the first two groups were given PS at a dose of 70-100 mg/kg. The partial pressure of oxygen (PaO), partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO), PaO/fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO), oxygenation index (OI), and respiratory index (RI) were measured at 0, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours of mechanical ventilation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>At 12, 24, and 48 hours of mechanical ventilation, the HFOV+PS group had higher PaOand lower PaCOthan the CMV+PS and CMV groups (P<0.05). At 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours of mechanical ventilation, the HFOV+PS group had higher PaO/FiOand lower OI and RI than the CMV+PS and CMV groups (P<0.05). The HFOV+PS group had shorter durations of mechanical ventilation and oxygen use than the CMV+PS and CMV groups (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the incidence rates of air leakage and intracranial hemorrhage and cure rate between the three groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>In neonates with ALI/ARDS, HFOV combined with PS can improve pulmonary function more effectively and shorten the durations of mechanical ventilation and oxygen use compared with CMV+PS and CMV alone. It does not increase the incidence of complications.</p>