Abstract

ANTUNES, Letícia C.O.; RUGOLO, Lígia M.S.S.  and  CROCCI, Adalberto J.. Effect of preterm infant position on weaning from mechanical ventilation. Rev. bol. ped. [online]. 2005, vol.44, n.2, pp.125-130. ISSN 1024-0675.

Objective: the purpose of this study was to determine the effects of prone positioning on cardiorespiratory stability and weaning outcorne of preterm infants during we aning from mechanical ventilation. Methods: from January to December 1999, a sample of 42 preterm infants, with birthweight < 2.000 g. mechanically ventilated in the first week of lite, were randomly divided, in the beginning of the weaning process, in two groups according to the position: supine position (n = 21) or prone position (n = 21). Heart rateo respiratory rate , transcutaneous oxygcn saturation and ventilatory parameters were rccorded every one hour. Length af the wcaning process and complications were also assessed. Results: in both groups the mean gestational age was 29 weeks, most of the patients presented very low birthweight and respiratory distress syndrorne. The mean length of the weaning process was 2 days. There were no differences between the groups regarding respiratory rate, heart rate and transcutaneous oxygen saturation, howevcr, oxygen desaturation episodes were more frequent in supine position (p = 0.009). Ventilatory parameters decreased faster and reintubation was less frequent in the prone group (4% versus 33%). No adverse effects of prone positioning were observed. Conclusion: these results suggest that prone position is a safe and beneficial procedure during the weaning from mechanical ventilation and may contribute to weaning success in preterm infants.

Keywords : premature; weaning; mechanical ventilation; position.

        · abstract in Portuguese     · text in Portuguese     · Portuguese ( pdf )