Retrospective study of preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome during 1998-2012

Objective To study changes of treatment in preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome(RDS) during 1998-2012. Methods Retrospective observational study of infants,34weeks gestation,born between January 1998and December 2012.A group was the cases during the first 7years(n=63),and B group was the cases during the next 8years(n=151).Perinatal data,birth history treatment(including respiratory support,surfactant therapy and doses),complications and outcomes were compared. Results The birth weight of B group was(1 284.50±252.153)g,significantly lower than A group [(1 424.27±329.44)g](t=3.292,P0.001).The amount of surfactant in group was(169.66± 57.97)mg,significantly lower than that of B group[(195.00±59.87)mg](P=0.041).The requirement of intubation ventilation support in A group was 39cases(90.7%),higher than 85cases in B group(70.8%)(χ 2=6.86,P0.01).In group B,33cases(27.5%)developed BPD,which was more than 4cases(9.3%)in A group(χ 2=5.97,P=0.02).The length of hospitalization,NICU stay and oxygen dependence in B group were longer than A group.The mortality of B group was lower than A group,11.7%versus 27.9%(χ 2=6.23,P=0.01). Conclusion In the last decades,exogenous surfactant replacement has been established as an effective and safe therapy in RDS preterm infants.