Mechanical ventilation in newborns with lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)

Abstract

The objective of this brief report was to determine the incidence of newborns with LRTI caused by RSV who required mechanical ventilation (MV), the cause which required MV and some of the clinical and epidemiological aspects of this study group. Of 150 infants hospitalized with LRTI caused by RSV, 11 (7.3%) required MV, in 10 the cause was repeated apnoea and in 1 respiratory failure with apnoea. The average age was 18.1 days, the most frequent signs and symptoms were cough (81.8%), respiratory difficulty (54.4%). Only 1 required a PIM of greater than 35 cm water and only 2 required a FiO₂ of greater than 0.4, the average index of oxygenation was 5.5 and duration of VM was 3.5 + 2.8 days (range 1-11 days). The average hospitalisation was 11 days, 1 patient dying. We conclude that the necesity for VM in newborns with LRTI caused by RSV is low (7.3%), that the principal reason for VM is episodes of apnoea, which is for a short period of time.