Assisted Ventilation in Terminal Hyaline Membrane Disease

Abstract

Eighteen apnoeic infants dying from the respiratory distress syndrome have been treated by positive pressure assisted ventilation. The infants were divided into 3 groups of increasingly advanced clinical death on the basis of duration of respiratory arrest, cardiac status, and type of cyanosis. Initial acid-base state and its changes during treatment were recorded. The duration of survival was related to the severity of the clinical and biochemical condition when ventilation was begun. Only in the least advanced group was significant prolongation of life (average 50 hours) and complete correction of metabolic and respiratory acidosis achieved. One infant in this group survived apparently undamaged.