HELIOX(R) TOLERANCE IN SPONTANEOUSLY BREATHING NEONATES WITH BRONCHOPULMONARY DYSPLASIA

The use of a gas mixture in which helium is substituted for nitrogen a llows a decrease in pulmonary resistances and in resistive work of bre athing. This treatment might allow a reduction in energy expenditure i n infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and spare calories for growth. In a preliminary study designed to assess tolerance to Heliox (R), 4 infants with BPD and 4 controls were studied firstly when breat hing air and secondly when breathing Heliox(R), at 10, 20 and 30 min e xposure (T10, T20, T30). The following parameters were recorded: respi ratory and cardiac rates, room (RT) and skin temperatures (ST) and tra nscutaneous (Tc) blood gases. When breathing air, TcPO2 was normal in the two groups (mean +/- SEM: 70 +/- 4 mm Hg in BPD vs. 78 +/- 4 in co ntrols). TcPCO2 was higher in the BPD group (41 +/- 2 vs. 35 +/- 1 mm Hg in controls; p = 0.028). Spontaneously breathing Heliox had immedia te consequences such as wakening, crying, decrease in ST and hypoxia. Hypoxia was more serious and more rapid in the BPD group. At the 10-mi n exposure, mean TcPO2 was 39 +/- 4 mm Hg in BPD vs. 69 +/- 7 in contr ols (p = 0.042). Hypoxia was immediatly corrected when breathing room air. TcPCO2 was unchanged in both groups.