Factores en la morbilidad respiratoria de los recién nacidos de muy bajo peso con membrana hialina
Factors related to respiratory complications in very low birth weight infants with respiratory distress syndrome

Abstract

Introduction: Very low birth weight (VLBW) infants, with a birth weight below 1500 g and a structurally immature lung, are at high risk for developing bronchopulmonary dysplasia. This risk is even higher if respiratory distress syndrome is present. Other acute lung diseases, such as air leak and pulmonary hemorrhage, can also be present. The aim of this study was to analyze the statistical relevance of several neonatal factors in the development of pulmonary complications in a sample of VLBW infants with respiratory distress syndrome. Patients and methods: A total of 209 VLBW infants with respiratory distress syndrome were studied. The variables analyzed were delivery date, respiratory distress syndrome grade, sex, birth weight, gestational age, referral (from within the hospital or elsewhere), prenatal corticosteroid administration, type of gestation, type of delivery, amniorrhexis time, Apgar test at 1 and 5 minutes, surfactant administration, hours of life at which the first dose of surfactant was administered, and early sepsis. A multiple logistic regression analysis was developed using Hosmer-Lemeshow methodology. Results: In the multivariate analysis, air leak was related to respiratory distress syndrome grade and surfactant administration. Pulmonary hemorrhage was related to lower birth weight and absence of prenatal corticosteroid administration. Bronchopulmonary dysplasia was related to single pregnancies, absence of prenatal corticosteroid administration, lower birth weight, lower Apgar score at 1 minute, and higher respiratory distress syndrome grade. Conclusions: Respiratory morbidity in VLBW infants with respiratory distress syndrome could be influenced by several interrelated intrinsic and extrinsic variables