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Conventional mechanical ventilation (CMV) has been recommended as the first-line mode of respiratory support for neonates born with a congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). However, older studies suggested that protective high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) with low-mean airway pressure (MAP) may limit lung injury. We aimed to compare low-MAP HFOV with CMV in neonates with CDH in terms of patient outcomes. This retrospective cohort study was conducted in two French neonatal intensive care units: center 1 mainly used CMV, and center 2 mainly used HFOV with a low MAP. All term neonates with CDH born between 2010 and 2018 in these two centers were included. The primary outcome was the duration of oxygen therapy. Secondary outcomes were survival and duration of mechanical ventilation. A total of 170 patients (105 in center 1, 65 in center 2) were included. In center 2, 96% of patients were ventilated with HFOV versus 19% in center 1. After adjustment for perinatal data, there was no significant difference regarding duration of oxygen therapy (SHR 0.83, 95% CI [0.55-1.23], p = 0.35) or survival (HR 1.73, 95% CI [0.64-4.64], p = 0.28). Center 2 patients required longer mechanical ventilation and sedation.Conclusion: First-line mode of mechanical ventilation was not associated with the duration of oxygen therapy or survival in neonates with CDH.What Is Known: • Recommendations were given in favour of using the conventional mechanical ventilation in first intention in neonates with a congenital diaphragmatic hernia, since High frequency oscillation (HFO) has been associated with a higher morbidity.What Is New: • No differences between HFO and conventional mechanical ventilation were observed concerning the length of oxygen supply and the survival.. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: General anesthesia for tracheal stenting is challenging because of difficult ventilation and accompanying hypoxia. We report the use of oxygen reserve index (ORi™) during tracheal stenting. Case presentation: Cauterization of an intratracheal tumor and tracheal stenting was scheduled in a patient. ORi decreased from 0.3 to 0.2 after starting cauterization using a flexible bronchoscope through a tracheal tube with 28% oxygen, while SpO2 was maintained at 100%. ORi further decreased to 0, followed by a decrease of SpO2 < 90%, and surgery was interrupted. SpO2 was increased shortly after increasing FiO2 to 1.0, but ORi remained 0 when surgery was resumed; it was increased after completion of cauterization. Both ORi and SpO2 were maintained above 0.4 and 98%, respectively, during tracheal stenting through a rigid bronchoscope under intrapulmonary percussive ventilation. Conclusion: ORi was useful for predicting a decrease of SpO2 under general anesthesia for tracheal stenting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Retinopathy of prematurity (nROP) among extremely low gestational age newborns (ELGAN) in Slovenia has increased in recent years. At the same time mortality has further decreased and less invasive approaches for treatment of respiratory distress syndrome have been established. With the aim to study the possible association between the incidence of ROP and the duration of noninvasive ventilation, this retrospective study comprised ELGANs born during the first period (2010/2011), when invasive respiratory support was the prevalent method and in the second period (2015/2016), when noninvasive respiratory support was adopted. The results showed that the duration of noninvasive ventilation is a potential risk factor for ROP. Controlling for known risk factors for ROP and then adjusting for gestational age, number of transfusions and fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2), the odds of ROP were 1.22 times greater (95% confidence interval, CI 1.01–1.48) with every additional week of noninvasive ventilation (p = 0.03). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although maternal antenatal transfer is the preferred option, some infants inevitably need urgent transport to a tertiary neonatal care facility after birth. This study aimed to investigate trends over time in patient characteristics and respiratory management in a large series of neonatal emergency transfers, in order to provide health caregivers an up-to-date profile of such patients and their therapeutic needs. Trends in patient characteristics and respiratory management were evaluated in 3337 transfers by the Eastern Veneto Neonatal Emergency Transport Service in 2000–2019. Joinpoint regression analysis was performed to evaluate trends and to estimate annual percentage changes (APCs). Proportions of preterm neonates increased (APC2000–2012 2.25%), then decreased (APC2012–2019 − 6.04%). Transfers at birth increased (APC2000–2013 2.69%), then decreased (APC2013–2019 − 5.76%). Proportion of neonates with cardiac and surgical diseases declined (APCs2000–2019 − 6.82% and − 3.32%), while proportion of neonates with neurologic diseases increased (APC2000–2019 8.62%). Use of nasal-continuous-positive-airway-pressure (APC2000–2019 9.72%) and high-flow-nasal-cannula (APC2007–2019 58.51%) at call, and nasal-continuous-positive-airway-pressure (APC2000–2019 13.87%) and nasal-intermittent-mandatory-ventilation (APC2000–2019 32.46%) during transfer increased. Mechanical ventilation during transfer decreased (APC2014–2019 − 10.77%). Use of oxygen concentrations at 21% increased at call and during transfer (APCs 2000–2019 2.24% and 2.44%), while oxygen concentrations above 40% decreased at call and during transfer (APCs 2000–2019 − 3.93% and − 5.12%). Conclusion: Our findings revealed a shift toward a more "gentle" approach and the reduced use of oxygen in respiratory management. Equipment and team expertise should meet the requirements of such changing patients and their therapeutic needs. What is Known: • Although antenatal transfer is the preferred option, some infants inevitably need urgent transport to a tertiary neonatal care facility after birth. • Trend studies investigating cohort information with appropriate statistical methods represent useful instruments to detect changes over time. What is New: • Our findings revealed marked changes in patient characteristics and respiratory management in a large series of neonatal emergency transfers during the last two decades. • Equipment and team expertise should meet the requirements of such changing patients and their therapeutic needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), the most common and severe type of dystrophinopathy, is a progressive disease affecting primordially skeletal and cardiac muscle. A coordinated multidisciplinary approach is required to address its multisystemic manifestations and secondary problems. • Treatment with glucocorticosteroids (GCS) is accepted as standard of care in ambulant DMD. Daily and intermittent administrations are both in common use with different efficacy and different side effect profile. • There are no established guidelines for age/stage at initiation and treatment duration of GCS. Common practice is initiation of GCS before the child is starting to decline (between age 3 and 6 years) and continuation of monitored treatment after loss of ambulation, aiming at delaying cardiac and respiratory manifestations and preventing the development of scoliosis. • Prevention, monitoring, and treatment of the side effects of long-term chronic GCS use, such as excessive weight gain, hypertension, osteoporosis, impairment of glucose metabolism, delayed puberty, and cataract, should be integrated in the standards of care. • Noninvasive ventilatory support associated with cough assisting techniques has significantly improved the longevity in DMD. • Pharmacologic treatment for cardiac manifestations includes the standard treatments of dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmia such as the use of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, beta-blockers and diuretics. The lack of robust controlled data hampers clear recommendations about preventive treatment with ACE inhibitors. • DMD is associated with low bone mineral content, which is aggravated by the use of corticosteroids. The use of biphosphonates can be considered in the treatment of painful vertebral fractures. The use of biphosphonates as a preventive treatment should be investigated in randomized controlled studies. • DMD has evolved from a pediatric disease to an adult condition. This underscores the need to prepare adult neurologists for the optimal surveillance and management of patients with a severe chronic disease that have outgrown the pediatric care and that may develop new disease manifestations with improved longevity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]