Airway Resistance in Infants After Various Treatments for Hyaline Membrane Disease: Special Emphasis on Prolonged High Levels of Inspired Oxygen

Abstract
Thoracic gas volume, airway resistance (Raw), and dynamic lung compliance (CL) were measured in 48 infants surviving after hyaline membrane disease. Some infants had a small reduction in CL after recovery from the acute phase of the illness but no other abnormalities were detected, irrespective of the type of treatment received. When studied again between the ages of 4-10 mo., CL had returned to normal, but all infants who were treated with intermittent positive pressure ventilation (IPPV) during the neonatal period had developed a raised Raw. All nonventilated infants including those who had received up to 5 days of O2 therapy in concentrations above 80%, had normal lung function. IPPV, and not the increased inspired O2 concentration, damaged the airways and interfered with their growth.

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