ABSTRACT. Objectives. To systematically review the evidence to determine whether the routine use of highfrequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) as compared with conventional ventilation (CV) is beneficial or harmful in preterm infants requiring mechanical ventilation for pulmonary failure principally due to respiratory distress syndrome.Methods. All randomized controlled trials of elective HFOV versus CV in preterm infants <36 weeks' gestation with respiratory failure mainly attributable to respiratory distress syndrome were identified from the literature through a search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, Oxford database of Perinatal trials, and previous reviews including cross-references and abstracts. Meta-analyses using event rate ratios (ERR), event rate difference, and if significant, number needed-to-treat were calculated (95% confidence limits were used for all analyses). Two prespecified subgroup analyses were performed.Results. Four published trials 9,18 -20 were included.
Meta-analyses revealed the following ERR (95% confidence intervals) for HFOV versus CV
19Conclusions. The overall meta-analysis is dominated by the HIFI study, 9 which was criticized for its methodology 11 and surfactant was not used. Subsequent studies, most of which used HVS and/or surfactant, have shown benefits in measures of CLD without an increase in rates of IVH. Caution is warranted in interpreting these results because: 1) the treatment is not blinded and this could affect some outcomes; 2) except for one small trial 20 postneonatal survival, lung function, and neurodevelopment have not been reported from HVS trials; and 3) the benefits and disadvantages have not been reported in infants born at different gestational ages or different birth weights. Importantly, results from groups experienced in the use of HFOV may not be readily generalizable. Pediatrics 1997;100(5). URL: http://www.pediatrics.org/ cgi/content/full/100/5/e6; meta-analyses, high-frequency ventilation, high-frequency oscillatory ventilation, chronic lung disease, preterm, neonatal ventilation, neonatal morbidity.