EVALUATION OF MECHANICAL VENTILATION IN NEWBORN INFANTS: I. Techniques and survival rates

Abstract

Short-term outcome with survival rate, causes of death and neonatal complications in a 6 yr material comprising 253 [human] infants treated with intermittent positive pressure ventilation (IPPV) in the neonatal period was analyzed in relation to different primary disorders necessitating IPPV treatment. Total survival rate was 53%. For the different diagnoses survival rates were as follows: hyaline membrane disease (HMD) 41%, apnea repetens of immaturity 85%, severe birth asphyxia 46% and septicemia 59%. Total rate of pneumothorax during IPPV was 15%, but occurred more often in the HMD group (28%). Trends in survival rates are discussed, as are measurements for improvements.