LONG‐TERM PROGNOSIS OF INFANTS WITH IDIOPATHIC RESPIRATORY DISTRESS SYNDROME Follow‐up Studies in Infants Surviving after the Introduction of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure

Abstract

Children (51) surviving IRDS [idiopathic respiratory distress syndrome] with CPAP [continuous positive airway pressure] alone or CPAP and IPPV [intermittent positive pressure ventilation] were studied at the age of 2.5-4.0 yr. One child had developed tetraplegia and mental retardation and 6 children were speech-retarded. Correlation with perinatal events showed that this group of children had a significantly lower gestational age and birth wt, a lower Apgar score and a higher PCO2 [partial pressure of CO2] prior to ventilatory treatment than the remainder. Re-examination by age 4.0-5.0 yr showed persistent handicaps in only 4 of the 7 children.