Effect of antenatal corticosteroid treatment on neonatal oxygen requirements during the first 12 hours of life

Objective To analyze the effect of antenatal corticosteroid treatment on th e minimum and maximum fractional inspired O-2 (FiO(2)) requirements during the first 12h of life in neonates born before 34 weeks' gestation, Methods Neonates born before 34 weeks' gestation without evidence of congen ital anomalies and delivered at the University of New Mexico Health Science s Center from September 1994 to July 1996 comprised our study population. T he population consisted of two groups: group 1, those receiving antenatal c orticosteroids; and group 2, those not receiving antenatal corticosteroids. Parameters analyzed included: mean gestational age determined by the Balla rd score, mean birth weight and minimum FiO(2) and maximum FiO(2) requireme nts during the first 12h of neonatal life. Student's t test and the Wilcoxo n score (rank sums) were used for analysis. Results There were no statistically significant differences in gestational age and mean birth weight between the group of patients receiving antenatal corticosteroids and those not receiving antenatal corticosteroids. The mea n minimum FiO(2) in the antenatal corticosteroids group was 0.33 +/-0.19, a nd 0.42 +/-0.36 in the group not receiving antenatal corticosteroids. There was a statistically significant difference in the minimum and maximum FiO( 2), requirements of both groups. Conclusions The use of antenatal corticosteroids in our population was asso ciated with a significant reduction in neonatal oxygen requirements during the first 12h of life.