Mw. Beresford et al., Randomised controlled trial of patient triggered and conventional fast rate ventilation in neonatal respiratory distress syndrome, ARCH DIS CH, 82(1), 2000, pp. F14-F18
Aim-To compare patient triggered, with conventional fast rate, ventilation
in a randomised controlled trial using the incidence of chronic lung diseas
e as the primary outcome measure.
Methods-Three hundred and eighty six preterm infants with birthweights from
1000 to 2000 g, and requiring ventilation for respiratory distress syndrom
e within 24 hours of birth, were randomised to receive either conventional
or trigger ventilation with the SLE 2000 ventilator.
Results-There were no significant differences in the incidence of chronic l
ung disease (28 day and 36 week definitions), death, pneumothorax, intraven
tricular haemorrhage, number of ventilator days, or length of oxygen depend
ency between groups.
Conclusions-Patient triggered ventilation in preterm infants with respirato
ry distress syndrome is feasible. No significant differences, when compared
with conventional fast rate ventilation in important medium and longer ter
m outcome measures, were evident.