BackgroundThe recovery of diaphragmatic function is vital for successful extubation from mechanical ventilation. Recent studies have detected diaphragm atrophy in ventilated adults by using ultrasound, but no similar report has been conducted in children. In the current study, we hypothesized that mechanically ventilated children may also develop diaphragm atrophy and diaphragmatic dysfunction.Materials and methodsChildren who were admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit and were newly intubated for mechanical ventilation were enrolled into this prospective case–control study. Diaphragm ultrasound assessments were performed daily to evaluate diaphragmatic function in the enrolled children until their discharge from the pediatric intensive care unit. Diaphragm thickness and the diaphragmatic thickening fraction (DTF) were measured through these assessments.ResultsA total of 31 patients were enrolled, and overall, 1389 ultrasound assessments were performed. Immediately after intubation, the initial diaphragm thickness and DTF were measured to be 1.94 ± 0.44 mm and 25.85% ± 3.29%, respectively. In the first 24 hours of mechanical ventilation, diaphragm thickness and the DTF decreased substantially and decreased gradually thereafter. After extubation, the DTF was significantly different between the successful and failed extubation groups (P < 0.001), and a DTF value of <17% was associated with extubation failure.ConclusionsDiaphragm ultrasound is a noninvasive method for measuring diaphragmatic function in mechanically ventilated children. In this study, significant diaphragm atrophy and a decreased DTF were observed within 24 hours of mechanical ventilation. The recovery of diaphragm thickness and the DTF may be a potential predictor of successful extubation from mechanical ventilation.

Decreasing the frequency of ventilator circuit changes from every 2 days to once per week is safe and cost-effective in neonates requiring prolonged intubation for more than 1 week.

Objectives: The indication of inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) used in preterm infants has not been well defined. Neonates with refractory hypoxemia may benefit from the pulmonary vasodilatory effects of iNO. The aim of this study was to investigate the off-label use of iNO as a rescue therapy. Methods: Between January 2010 and December 2017, all neonates who received iNO as a rescue therapy from a tertiary-level medical center were enrolled, and those who were not diagnosed with persistent pulmonary hypertension of newborn (PPHN) were defined as having received off-label use of iNO. The controls were 636 neonates with severe respiratory failure requiring high-frequency oscillatory ventilation but no iNO. Results: A total of 206 neonates who received iNO as a rescue therapy were identified, and 84 (40.8%) had off-label use. The median (interquartile) gestational age was 30.5 (26.3–37.0) weeks. Neonates receiving iNO had significantly more severe respiratory failure and a higher oxygenation index than the controls (p < 0.001). Respiratory distress syndrome and secondary pulmonary hypertension after severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) were the most common causes of the off-label iNO prescription. Of the 84 neonates with off-label use of iNO, 53 (63.1%) had initial improvement in oxygenation, but 44 (52.4%) eventually died. The overall mortality rate was 41.7% (86/206). After multivariate logistic regression, extremely preterm (odds ratio [OR] 5.51; p < 0.001), presence of pulmonary hemorrhage (OR 2.51; p = 0.036) and severe hypotension (OR 2.78; p = 0.008) were the independent risk factors for final mortality. Conclusions: iNO is applicable to be an off-label rescue therapy for premature neonates with refractory hypoxemia due to severe pulmonary hypertension and bronchopulmonary dysplasia.