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The learning, introducing and effects of a non-invasive respiratory support programme with the infant-flow method in newborns: Polish 2-year experience

Introduction

Mechanical ventilation results in an increased risk of pulmonary complications in the newborns treated for respiratory failure in NICUs.

Aim

This abstract reports on our 2-year experience with the application programme of the infant flow (IF) method in infants (in 67 neonatal centres in Poland between 1 August 2003 and 30 April 2005).

Methods

We reviewed collected data of 1321 newborns (male/female 799/522; range of gestational age 22–45 weeks; birth weight 480–4950 g). The indications for treatment were categorized into three classes: RDS, weaning and other.

Results

The IF method enabled us to avoid intubation in these groups in 77.8%, 61.2% and 77.9%, respectively. The lowest rate of complications compared with the two other groups was in the RDS group (Table 1). Low gestational age was associated with a statistically significantly lower rate of successes than higher gestational age: 62.7 and 83%. A similar effect was seen while comparing success rates of newborns by weight: 60.7 and 82.4%. The incidence of pneumothorax was 1.1%. Among extrapulmonary complications PDA occurred in 12.8%; ROP 11.9%; IVH 7.4%; PVL 3.6% of infants. Occurrence of local complications was infrequent, as shown in Table 2.

Table 1 (abstract P48)
Table 2 (abstract P48)

Conclusion

The results strongly suggest that the IF method is effective and clinically valuable. Some typical problems consistent with the 'learning curve' phenomenon were observed during the study.

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Swietlinski, J., Bober, K., Gajewska, E. et al. The learning, introducing and effects of a non-invasive respiratory support programme with the infant-flow method in newborns: Polish 2-year experience. Crit Care 10 (Suppl 1), P48 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1186/cc4395

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/cc4395

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