RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 High-frequency oscillatory ventilation versus synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation plus pressure support in preterm infants with severe respiratory distress syndrome JF Respiratory Care FD American Association for Respiratory Care SP respcare.02382 DO 10.4187/respcare.02382 A1 Huiqing Sun A1 Rui Cheng A1 Wengqing Kang A1 Hong Xiong A1 Chongchen Zhou A1 Yinghui Zhang A1 Xiaoyang Wang A1 Changlian Zhu YR 2013 UL http://rc.rcjournal.com/content/early/2013/06/13/respcare.02382.abstract AB Background: Mechanical ventilation and surfactants are the standard treatment of preterm respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). The effects of the primary ventilation model on bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and long-term neurodevelopment outcomes are controversial. The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) and synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation plus pressure support ventilation (SIMV-PSV) in preterm infants with severe RDS. Methods: A total of 366 eligible preterm infants were randomly assigned to treatment with HFOV (n = 184) or SIMV-PSV (n = 182). Surfactant was applied if PaO2/FIO2 < 200 after 2 hours of ventilation. Primary outcomes were mortality or incidence of BPD. Secondary outcomes were duration of ventilation and hospitalization, surfactant requirements, pneumothorax, retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) ≥ stage 2, and neurodevelopment at 18 months of corrected age. Results: Survival and complete outcome data were available for 288 infants at 18 months of corrected age. Incidence of death or BPD was significantly higher in the SIMV-PSV group (p = 0.001). The duration of mechanical ventilation and hospitalization was shorter and the incidence of surfactant requirement and ROP was lower in the HFOV group (p < 0.05). Moderate or severe neurological disability was less frequent in the HFOV group than in the SIMV-PSV group at 18 months (p < 0.05). The combination of HFOV and surfactant dramatically reduced negative outcomes in preterm infants with severe RDS. Conclusion: Initial ventilation with HFOV in preterm infants with severe RDS reduces the incidence of death and BPD and improves long-term neurodevelopment outcomes.