Incidence and short-term outcome of physiologic bronchopulmonary dysplasia in very preterm infants

Objective To investigate the incidence and short-term outcome of very preterm infants with phy-siologic bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Methods Data of very preterm infants with gestational age of no more than 32 weeks admitted into Guangdong General Hospital between Mar.2011 and Feb.2012 were prospectively collec-ted.Oxygen withdrawing test was performed in these infants at postmenstrual age of 36 weeks.Infants who failed to pass the test or who were ventilated were diagnosed as physiologic BPD. Results Sixty-six infants were admitted, of whom 6 were excluded for more than 36 weeks of postmenstrual age at admission.Eighteen infants(30.0%) were diagnosed as classic BPD.Among them, at testing time point, 4 cases did not need supplemental oxygen, 13 cases needed oxygen supplementation and 1 case needed mechanical ventilation.Thirteen infants underwent oxygen withdrawing test and 6 cases passed.Eight cases (13.3%) were diagnosed as physiologic BPD.The incidences of apnea or bradycardia were of no differences between infants passing or failing to pass oxygen withdrawing test.All infants survived to discharge without supplemental oxygen. Conclusions The incidence of infants with physiologic BPD is significantly lower than that with classic BPD.Restrictive saturation of percutaneous oxygen can decrease the incidence of infants with supplemental oxygen, with no more adverse events.More research are needed on physiologic BPD. Key words: Bronchopulmonary dysplasia; Physiologic definition; Incidence