Perinatology.  2022 Mar;33(1):15-20. 10.14734/PN.2022.33.1.15.

Effect of Mechanical Ventilation on Neuro developmental Outcome in Preterm Infants without Major Neurodevelopmental Im pairments

• Kim J
• Lim KB
• Yoo J
• Hwang JH
• Yoon BH

• KMID: 2527751
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.14734/PN.2022.33.1.15

Abstract

Objective
Prematurity is a strong risk factor for neurodevelopmental impairment and ventilator care occupies an important portion to manage preterm infants. The aim of this study is to investigate the development of children who were born preterm and determine the effects of ventilator care on these developmental domains.
Methods
Children who were born preterm, admitted neonatal intensive care unit and received invasive mechanical ventilation and have neurodevelopmental assessments at 24 months corrected age were included in this study. Children diagnosed with major neurodevelopmental impairments were excluded. Subjects were divided into two groups, group A (less than 7 days) and group B (more than7 days), based on the duration of use of mechanical ventilation.
Results
A total of 43 children were finally enrolled, and groups A and B consisted of 13 and 30 children, respectively. Motor and cognitive test scores as assessed by Bayley Scales of Infant Development-II, and social adaptive function score assessed on the Social Maturity Scale did not differ significantly between the 2 groups. However, within the same group, the difference in motor and cognitive scores was significantly greater in group B than in group A (P<0.05).
Conclusion
Our findings show that some of the children without major neurodevelopmental impairment may have imbalances between domains of development, and this risk is greater when the duration of invasive mechanical ventilation is longer. This result supports that close monitoring is needed in children born in preterm with prolonged mechanical ventilation to see if development is balanced between developmental domains.

Keyword

Mechanical ventilators; Minimal brain dysfunction; Neuropsychological tests; Premature birth