Open AccessParalysis of ventilated newborn babies does not influence resistance of the total respiratory system
Author(s) -
Burger R.,
Fanconi S.,
Simma B.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
european respiratory journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.021
H-Index - 241
eISSN - 1399-3003
pISSN - 0903-1936
DOI - 10.1034/j.1399-3003.1999.14b20.x
Subject(s) - anesthesia , paralysis , medicine , respiratory system , functional residual capacity , pancuronium bromide , pulmonary compliance , lung volumes , oxygen tension , airway resistance , lung , respiratory failure , oxygen , surgery , chemistry , airway , organic chemistry
Paralysis with pancuronium bromide is used in newborn infants to facilitate ventilatory support during respiratory failure. Changes in lung mechanics have been attributed to paralysis. The aim of this study was to examine whether or not paralysis per se has an influence on the passive respiratory mechanics, resistance ( R rs) and compliance ( C rs) of the respiratory system in newborn infants. In 30 infants with acute respiratory failure, R rs was measured during paralysis with pancuronium bromide and after stopping pancuronium bromide (group A). R rs was also measured in an additional 10 ventilated infants in a reversed fashion (group B): R rs was measured first in nonparalysed infants and then they were paralysed, mainly for diagnostic procedures, and the R rs measurement repeated. As R rs is highly dependent on lung volume, several parameters, that depend directly on lung volume were recorded: inspiratory oxygen fraction ( F I,O 2 ), arterial oxygen tension/alveolar oxygen tension (a/A) ratio and volume above functional residual capacity (FRC). In group A, the R rs was not different during (0.236±0.09 cmH 2 O·s·mL ‐1 ) and after (0.237±0.07 cmH 2 O·s·mL ‐1 ) paralysis. Also, in group B, R rs did not change (0.207±0.046 versus 0.221±0.046 cm·s·mL ‐1 without versus with pancuronium bromide). F I,O 2 , a/A ratio and volume above FRC remained constant during paralysis. These data demonstrate that paralysis does not influence the resistance of the total respiratory system in ventilated term and preterm infants when measured at comparable lung volumes. Eur Respir J 1999; 14: 357–362.