Randomised trial of volume-targeted ventilation versus pressure-limited ventilation in acute respiratory failure in prematurely born infants.

BACKGROUND: During volume-targeted ventilation (VTV), a constant volume is delivered with each ventilator inflation.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether VTV compared to pressure-limited ventilation (PLV) reduced the time to reach weaning criteria in prematurely born infants with acute respiratory distress, and if any difference was explained by better respiratory muscle strength and/or a lower work of breathing (WOB).

METHODS: Infants of <34 weeks of gestational age ventilated for <24 h in the first week after birth were randomised to receive either VTV or PLV. The primary outcome was the time to achieve pre-specified weaning criteria. Respiratory muscle strength was assessed by the measurement of the maximum inflation and expiratory pressures, and the WOB assessed by the transdiaphragmatic pressure time product. Other outcomes reported are the duration of ventilation, occurrence of patent ductus arteriosus, pneumothorax, intraventricular haemorrhage, periventricular leukomalacia and episodes of hypocarbia.

RESULTS: Forty infants, median gestational age 27 (range 23-33) weeks, were recruited. The time taken to achieve weaning criteria was similar in the two groups [median 14 h (VTV) vs. 23 h (PLV)]. There were no significant differences between the groups with regard to respiratory muscle strength, WOB or other outcomes, except that fewer of the VTV compared to the PLV group had episodes of hypocarbia (8 vs. 19; p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION: In prematurely born infants with acute respiratory failure, use of VTV did not reduce the time to reach weaning criteria, but was associated with a reduction in episodes of hypocarbia.