| Effects of Early Dexamethasone Therapy in Neonatal Respiratory Distress Syndrome |
|
Hyeon-Soo Lee |
|
Department of Pediatrics, Cha General Hospital, Seoul, Korea |
| 미숙아 호흡곤란증후군(Respiratory Distress Syndrome)에 있어서의 조기 Dexamethasone 치료의 효과 |
|
이현수 |
|
강남차병원 소아과 |
Correspondence:
Hyeon-Soo Lee, Email: 1
|
|
|
|
|
| Abstract |
Purpose
: To examine the clinical effects of early dexamethasone treatment from postnatal age of 1 week to ventilated preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome.
Methods
: 14 one-week-old ventilator-dependent infants were enrolled. Seven received dexamethasone and another 7 did not receive. The doses of dexamethasone used were 0.25mg/kg twice daily for 3 days, 0.125mg/kg twice for 1 day, then 0.125mg/kg once for 1 day. Blood gases were measured and ventilatory efficiency index(VEI) and arterial/alveolar oxygen tension ratio(a/A PO2) were calculated every 12 hours from 48hours before to 72 hours after administration. Mean arterial blood pressures were noted and urine output was measured every 24 hours during the study.
Results
: Following dexamethasone, the values of PaO2 improved significantly during 72 hours of treatment(P < 0.05) and the values of PaCO2 tended to decrease during the study but those were not significant changes. VEI and a/A PO2 ratio improved significantly for 48 hours following dexamethasone(P < 0.05). After receiving dexamethasone, the urine output increased significantly during 72 hours of treatment(P < 0.05). The average extubation time in dexamethasone-treated group was
significantly earlier than that seen in control group(P < 0.05). Also the average duration of oxygen therapy and mechanical ventilation of dexamethasone-treated infants were significantly shorter compared with those of control infants.
Conclusion
: I conclude that early dexamethasone therapy from postnatal age of 1 week has beneficial effects in ventilated preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome. |
| Key Words:
Dexamethasone, Respiratory distress syndrome |
|
PDF Links
Download Citation
