Ventilation in extremely preterm infants and respiratory function at 8 years

Abstract

BACKGROUND Assisted ventilation for extremely preterm infants (<28 weeks of gestation) has become less invasive, but it is unclear whether such developments in care are associated with improvements in short-term or long-term lung function. We compared changes over time in the use of assisted ventilation and oxygen therapy during the newborn period and in lung function at 8 years of age in children whose birth was extremely premature. METHODS We conducted longitudinal follow-up of all survivors of extremely preterm birth who were born in Victoria, Australia, in three periods — the years 1991 and 1992 (225 infants), 1997 (151 infants), and 2005 (170 infants). Perinatal data were collected pros..