Surfactant utilization and short-term outcomes in an era of non-invasive respiratory support in Canadian neonatal intensive care units

Delivery room resuscitation and short-term outcomes of extremely preterm and extremely low birth weight infants: a multicenter survey in North China

Background:

Delivery room resuscitation assists preterm infants, especially extremely preterm infants (EPI) and extremely low birth weight infants (ELBWI), in breathing support, while it potentially exerts a negative impact on the lungs and outcomes of preterm infants. This study aimed to assess delivery room resuscitation and discharge outcomes of EPI and ELBWI in China.

Methods:

The clinical data of EPI (gestational age [GA] <28 weeks) and ELBWI (birth weight [BW] <1000 g), admitted within 72 h of birth in 33 neonatal intensive care units from five provinces and cities in North China between 2017 and 2018, were analyzed. The primary outcomes were delivery room resuscitation and risk factors for delivery room intubation (DRI). The secondary outcomes were survival rates, incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), and risk factors for BPD.

Results:

A cohort of 952 preterm infants were enrolled. The incidence of DRI, chest compressions, and administration of epinephrine was 55.9% (532/952), 12.5% (119/952), and 7.0% (67/952), respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that the risk factors for DRI were GA <28 weeks (odds ratio [OR], 3.147; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.082–4.755), BW <1000 g (OR, 2.240; 95% CI, 1.606–3.125), and antepartum infection (OR, 1.429; 95% CI, 1.044–1.956). The survival rate was 65.9% (627/952) and was dependent on GA. The rate of BPD was 29.3% (181/627). Multivariate analysis showed that the risk factors for BPD were male (OR, 1.603; 95% CI, 1.061–2.424), DRI (OR, 2.094; 95% CI, 1.328–3.303), respiratory distress syndrome exposed to ≥2 doses of pulmonary surfactants (PS; OR, 2.700; 95% CI, 1.679–4.343), and mechanical ventilation ≥7 days (OR, 4.358; 95% CI, 2.777–6.837). However, a larger BW (OR, 0.998; 95% CI, 0.996–0.999), antenatal steroid (OR, 0.577; 95% CI, 0.379–0.880), and PS use in the delivery room (OR, 0.273; 95% CI, 0.160–0.467) were preventive factors for BPD (all P < 0.05).

Conclusion:

Improving delivery room resuscitation and management of respiratory complications are imperative during early management of the health of EPI and ELBWI.

Guidelines for surfactant replacement therapy in neonates

Surfactant replacement therapy (SRT) plays a pivotal role in the management of neonates with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) because it improves survival and reduces respiratory morbidities. With the increasing use of noninvasive ventilation as the primary mode of respiratory support for preterm infants at delivery, prophylactic surfactant is no longer beneficial. For infants with worsening RDS, early rescue surfactant should be provided. While the strategy to intubate, give surfactant, and extubate (INSURE) has been widely accepted in clinical practice, newer methods of noninvasive surfactant administration, using thin catheter, laryngeal mask airway, or nebulization, are being adopted or investigated. Use of SRT as an adjunct for conditions other than RDS, such as meconium aspiration syndrome, may be effective based on limited evidence.

Les directives pour le traitement par surfactant exogène chez le nouveau-né

Le traitement par surfactant exogène joue un rôle essentiel dans la prise en charge des nouveau-nés atteints du syndrome de détresse respiratoire (maladie des membranes hyalines) parce qu’il améliore la survie et limite les troubles respiratoires. Puisque la ventilation non invasive est de plus en plus utilisée comme principal mode d’assistance respiratoire chez le nouveau-né prématuré à la naissance, l’administration prophylactique de surfactant n’est plus bénéfique. L’administration précoce de surfactant sous forme de traitement de rattrapage est préconisée chez les nouveau-nés dont le syndrome de détresse respiratoire s’aggrave. La stratégie qui consiste à intuber, administrer du surfactant, puis extuber (INSURE) est largement acceptée en pratique clinique, mais des méthodes non invasives plus récentes à l’aide d’un cathéter fin, d’un masque laryngé ou d’un nébuliseur sont en cours d’adoption ou d’exploration. Selon des données limitées, un traitement d’appoint par surfactant exogène pourrait être efficace pour traiter d’autres affections que le syndrome de détresse respiratoire, telles que le syndrome d’aspiration méconiale.

An in-line high frequency flow interrupter applied to nasal CPAP: Improved carbon dioxide clearance in a premature infant lung model

BACKGROUND

Noninvasive respiratory support continues to have high failure rates in small preterm infants. We previously demonstrated significantly improved in vitro CO₂ washout by applying oscillations to a high flow nasal cannula system.

OBJECTIVE

To develop a high frequency flow interrupter that could be applied to commonly used nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) devices and to determine the effect of oscillations on end-tidal carbon dioxide (EtCO₂ ) levels in an infant lung model.

DESIGN/METHODS

NCPAP was applied to a premature infant lung simulator using either bubble (BCPAP) or variable-flow (VCPAP) CPAP. Supply gas was interrupted with a solenoid pinch valve. EtCO₂ was measured before and during oscillation and repeated at 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 Hz oscillation and CPAP pressures of 4, 6, and 8 cm H ₂ O.

RESULTS

BCPAP and VCPAP EtCO₂ levels decreased with oscillation (P < .001). BCPAP EtCO₂ was significantly dependent on oscillation frequency (P < .001) with decreases of 18% to 47% and maximum effect at 10 Hz. Optimum VCPAP CO₂ clearance occurred at 6 Hz with reductions of 30% and 39% at 6 and 8 cm H₂ O CPAP respectively. BCPAP and VCPAP mean airway pressures remained unchanged transitioning from nonoscillation to oscillation. Oscillated BCPAP and VCPAP average amplitudes were 8.3 ± 0.5 and 8.4 ± 2.3 SD cm H₂ O, respectively. Power spectrum analysis of non-oscillated BCPAP showed bubbling-only dominant peaks at 10 to 12 Hz corresponding with the maximum BCPAP EtCO₂ reductions.

CONCLUSION

Application of high frequency oscillation to NCPAP improves CO₂ clearance in a premature infant lung model. This simple modification to NCPAP delivery devices may prove to be an effective enhancement of this mode of noninvasive respiratory support.

Effect of high frequency oscillatory high flow nasal cannula on carbon dioxide clearance in a premature infant lung model: A bench study

OBJECTIVE

This study compared CO₂ clearance in a premature infant lung model connected to a high flow nasal cannula (HFNC) system supplied with oscillatory versus non-oscillatory flow.

DESIGN/METHODS

The lung model was set to compliance 1.0 mL/cmH₂ O, RR 60 breaths/min, and 6 mL tidal volume. A 100% CO₂ was injected at a constant 15 mL/min. To create oscillation, HFNC flow was interrupted at rates of 4-6-8 and 10 Hz. equilibrated end-tidal CO₂ (ETCO₂ ) was recorded with and without oscillation at set flows of 2-8 L/min and repeated for each oscillation frequency.

RESULTS

Overall ETCO₂ decreased significantly (P < 0.001) during both non-oscillatory and oscillatory HFNC as set flow increased from 2 to 8 L/min by 26.3% and 60.8%, respectively. Oscillatory ETCO₂ levels decreased linearly compared to non-oscillatory HFNC with negligible difference at 2 L/min and a 48.4% difference at 8 L/min (P < 0.001). There were no differences in ETCO₂ levels between oscillation frequencies at any flow except at 6 Hz for which ETCO₂ was significantly lower (P < 0.01) than at 4, 8, and 10 Hz for 5-8 L/min HFNC flows. Amplitude of volume oscillations increased with increasing flow from 0.5 mL at 2 L/min to 4.0 mL at 8 L/min (P < 0.001), and decreased with increasing oscillation frequency.

CONCLUSION

Oscillatory HFNC as compared to non-oscillatory was associated with significantly improved CO₂ clearance in this premature infant lung model. This simple modification of the HFNC system may prove to be a useful enhancement to this mode of non-invasive respiratory support for preterm infants at high risk for respiratory failure.

Research on medication use in the neonatal intensive care unit

INTRODUCTION

Research on medication use aims at assessing how much of current pharmacotherapy is rational. In neonates, this is hampered by extensive off-label drug use and limited knowledge. Areas covered: We report on medication use research and have conducted a systematic review of observational studies on medication use to provide an updated overview on characteristics, objectives, methods, and patterns in hospitalized neonates. Moreover, a review on aspects of medication use for opioids, anti-epileptics, gastric acid-related disorders and respiratory stimulants with emphasis on trends and impact of interventions is presented, illustrating how research on medication use can contribute to improved neonatal pharmacotherapy and more focused research. Medication use reports describe patterns and provide signals on irrational use, benchmarking, or can guide research priorities. Moreover, this may generate information on how neonatal health topics and their pharmacotherapy are handled over time or across regions. Expert opinion: Research on medicine utilization is relevant, since it will inform us on aspects like trends, variability, or about the impact and pattern of implementation of guidelines in neonates. Further progress necessitates to merge datasets on medication use with clinical characteristics, and perinatal drug use remains an area in need of additional research.

Inhaled corticosteroids in ventilated preterm neonates: a non-randomized dose-ranging study

Background

Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) offer targeted treatment for bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) with minimal systemic effects compared to systemic steroids. However, dosing of ICS in the management of infants at high-risk of developing BPD is not well established. The objective of this study was to determine an effective dose of ICS for the treatment of ventilator-dependent infants to facilitate extubation or reduce fractional inspired oxygen concentration.

Methods

Forty-one infants born at < 32 weeks gestational age (GA) or < 1250 g who were ventilator-dependent at 10–28 days postnatal age were included. A non-randomized dose-ranging trial was performed using aerosolized inhaled beclomethasone with hydrofluoralkane propellant (HFA-BDP). Four dosing groups (200, 400, 600 and 800 μg twice daily for 1 week) with 11, 11, 10 and 9 infants in each group, respectively, were studied. The primary outcome was therapeutic efficacy (successful extubation or reduction in FiO₂ of > 75% from baseline) in ≥60% of infants in the group. Oxygen requirements, complications and long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes were also assessed.

Results

The median age at enrollment was 22 (10–28) postnatal days. The primary outcome, therapeutic efficacy as defined above, was not achieved in any group. However, there was a significant reduction in post-treatment FiO₂ at a dose of 800 μg bid. No obvious trends were seen in long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes.

Conclusions

Therapeutic efficacy was not achieved with all studied doses of ICS. A significant reduction in oxygen requirements was noted in ventilator-dependent preterm infants at 10–28 days of age when given 800 μg of HFA-BDP bid. Larger randomized trials of ICS are required to determine efficacy for the management of infants at high-risk for development of BPD.

Trial registration

This clinical trial was registered retrospectively on clinicaltrials.gov. The registration number is NCT03503994.