Respiratory mechanics in ventilated preterm infants : early determinants and outcome

Abstract

The studies in this thesis show that in the current surfactant era, the majority of ventilated preterm infants are still suffering from respiratory morbidity and substantial respiratory function abnormalities throughout the early years of life. Since respiratory function testing during mechanical ventilation does have important limitations, certain preparatives have to be made before reliable results can be obtained and patients are not getting extra disturbed. Inborn resistive properties of the respiratory system are important in relation to early neonatal respiratory course as well as subsequent respiratory morbidity and respiratory function during the first year of life. With regard to the first-year respiratory course, inborn resistive properties are more important determinants than degree of prematurity and neonatal lung damage. However, in relation to the development of bronchial hyperresponsiveness during infancy, degree of neonatal parenchymal damage to the lung is most important. Tracking of respiratory function is partially present for the resistive properties of the respiratory system during the early years after birth in preterm ventilated infants.