Background: There is insufficient data to reliably assess the benefit of bronchodilators in ventilated premature neonates. Objectives: To compare the efficacy/tolerance of inhaled ipratropium bromide (IB) vs. terbutaline (T) and to describe factors associated with their efficacy. Methods: A cross-over randomized controlled double-blind trial including intubated neonates with respiratory distress syndrome. Two puffs of IB or T were administered at 0, 20, 40 min. Passive respiratory system resistance (Rrs) and compliance (Crs) were measured at 0, 20, 40, 60 min. A positive response was defined as a >2 individual coefficients of variation decrease in Rrs or increase in Crs. Results: Twenty-one infants (gestational age (mean ± SD): 27.3 ± 1.6 weeks; birth weight: 947 ± 250 g; postnatal age: 20 ± 9 days) were included. At 60 min, no treatment effect for Rrs and Crs could be identified (cross-over analysis). Overall data (irrespective of order of administration) showed that after 6 puffs, the decrease in Rrs was greater in the IB vs. T group (–17.0 ± 22.2% vs. –11.3 ± 26.7%, respectively (NS)). Thirty-eight percent of infants responded to IB vs. 43% to T. However, in 19% of patients, decreased Crs was observed after 6 puffs of T. No marker of a positive or paradoxical response could be identified. Treatment was well-tolerated. Conclusion: High doses of bronchodilators are required in ventilated neonates, but the positive response rate was <50%. Their long-term benefit remains to be proven.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the predictive value of the respiratory system compliance (Crs) and resistance (Rrs) measured before surfactant therapy to identify infants at risk for chronic lung disease (CLD). Measurements of Crs and Rrs were obtained on 44 ventilated neonates with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) before and after surfactant therapy using the passive expiratory flow-volume method. It was found that in addition to a lower gestational age (GA) and a lower birth weight (BW), infants with CLD (n = 10) exhibited a lower Pa/AO₂ [Pa/AO₂ = PaO₂/(PiO₂ – PaCO₂)] and higher Rrs before surfactant compared to the infants without CLD (n = 28). Improvement in gas exchange 18 h after surfactant was reduced in the CLD group. Finally, we concluded that a low GA (< 28 weeks), a low BW (< 942 g), a low Pa/AO₂ before and 18 h after surfactant or a high Rrs before surfactant (>0.21 cm H₂O/ml/s) were associated with an increased risk of CLD.

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