Support for Very Preterm Infants

Continuous positive airway pressure is a reasonable alternative to intubation and surfactant therapy. When oxygen is needed, the lowest concentration should be used to achieve the desired oxygen saturation.

Survival without morbidity is the ultimate goal in very preterm infants (<28 weeks' gestation), but the ideal strategy for maximizing survival without increasing morbidity remains elusive. The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Neonatal Research Network conducted a prospective, multicenter study with a 2×2 factorial design to help guide these efforts.

In one part of the trial, 1316 very preterm infants (gestational age, 24–27 weeks and 6 days' gestation) were randomized before birth to target oxygen saturation ranges of 85% to 89% or 91% to 95%. The combined endpoint of severe retinopathy of prematurity or death before discharge did not differ between the two groups. However, the lower-target group had a significantly h…

Reviewing Author

William P. Kanto, Jr.,, MD