Funcitonal residual capacity and pulmonary mechanics in premature infants receiving a 12-day dexamethasone course

The objective of this paper is to determine the effects of a 12-day dexamet hasone course of the pulmonary function of preterm infants. The design cons isted of a consecutive sample of eligible patients, before-after trial. The Regional referral center neonatal ICU was the setting. The patients were 1 3 preterm infants, 545-1315 g, requiring mechanical ventilation. The follow ing was used: Intravenous dexamethasone for a 12-day tapering course beginn ing at 0.5 mg/kg every 12 hr. Main outcome measures were as follows: Measur ements of functional residual capacity (FRC), compliance, resistance, arter ial blood gases and alveolar-arterial differences, level of ventilatory ass istance, weight, length. All measures of pulmonary function demonstrated si gnificant improvement by Day 12 of treatment. Most improvement occurred in the first 6 days of treatment, in association with increased lung volume.