Optimisation of neonatal ventilation
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Optimisation of neonatal ventilation - determining the appropriate level of volume guarantee
IRAS ID
182543
Contact name
Ann Greenough
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Kings College London
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, days
Research summary
New forms of breathing support for newborn babies have been developed with the aim of minimising lung damage. One of these new forms, called volume targeted ventilation (VTV), delivers the same size of inflation (mechanical breath) to the baby despite changes in their lung function. We have shown in studies approved previously, that in both prematurely and term born infants with acute breathing problems, larger rather than smaller mechanical breaths appear to reduce the breathing effort required from the baby. It is not known, however, what size of inflation is best for the growing population of prematurely born infants with developing or established chronic lung disease (called bronchopulmonary dysplasia, or BPD), who may remain on the breathing machine for many months.
Our proposed study involves infants born less that 32 weeks of gestational age who remain supported by a ventilator (breathing machine) two weeks after birth because of their breathing problems, ie they are developing BPD. We will assess how hard they are working to breathe while we give different breath volumes (sizes) via the ventilator (within the normal baby breathing range). The best mechanical breath size will be determined by the level at which the baby has the lowest work of breathing. The baby will subsequently receive that size of mechanical breath while they remain on breathing support.
REC name
London - Surrey Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/LO/1414
Date of REC Opinion
29 Oct 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion