Efficacy and safety of noninvasive high-frequency oscillatory ventilation in the treatment of respiratory failure in premature infants

Feng LIN; Erli QU

ABSTRACT

Objective:

To investigate the efficacy and safety of noninvasive high-frequency oscillatory ventilation in the treatment of respiratory failure in premature infants.

Methods:

Sixty-one premature infants with respiratory failure who received treatment in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Wenzhou Central Hospital from June 2019 to June 2020 were included in this study. They were randomly assigned to undergo either noninvasive high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (observation group, n = 31) or transnasal continuous positive airway pressure ventilation (control group, n = 31). Blood gas indicators, including pH value, oxygen partial pressure (PaO 2), partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO 2), oxygenation index (OI), and respiratory index (RI), were determined before ventilation and 2, 8, 12, and 24 hours after ventilation. At the same time, the incidence of complications post-ventilation, including intracranial hemorrhage, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, air leakage, nasal crush injury, retinopathy of prematurity, abdominal distension, and necrotizing enterocolitis, was recorded in each group.

Results:

There were no significant differences in pH value, PaO 2, PaCO 2, OI, and RI pre-ventilation between observation and control groups ( t = 0.58, 0.64, 0.85, 0.43, 0.70, all P > 0.05). pH value, PaO 2, and OI measured 2, 8, 12 and 24 hours post-ventilation were significantly higher in the observation group than in the control group (pH value t2 h = 3.20, t8 h = 4.81, t12 h = 6.39, t24 h = 5.22; PaO 2valuet2 h = 5.80, t8 h = 6.31, t12 h = 7.55, t24 h = 6.97; OI value t2 h = 6.38, t8 h = 8.37, t12 h = 11.30, t24 h = 9.61). PaCO 2 and RI values were significantly lower in the observation group than in the control group (PaCO 2valuet2 h = 4.29, t8 h = 5.09, t12 h = 6.83, t24 h = 8.30; RI value t2 h = 3.26, t8 h = 5.81, t12 h = 7.36、 t24 h = 6.54) (all P < 0.05). The incidence of complications was significantly lower in the observation group than in the control group [25.81% (8/31) vs. 46.67% (14/30), χ2 = 8.75, P < 0.05].

Conclusion:

Compared with transnasal continuous positive airway pressure ventilation, noninvasive high-frequency oscillatory ventilation leads to better ventilation performance and a greater oxygenation ability, exhibits stronger effects on CO 2 clearance and acidosis correction, and has fewer complications in premature infants with respiratory failure. Therefore, noninvasive high-frequency oscillatory ventilation is suitable for clinical application.