Abstract
The present study was designed to investigate the mechanism of improvement of infants weighing 1200 gms. at birth or more with RDS, receiving an exchange transfusion as an adjunct to usual therapy. The present studies were designed to investigate the mechanism of improvement. Measurements of minute volume (VE, lung compliance (CL), pulmonary resistance (RL), and blood gases were made in 6 infants with the biochemical, and radiological diagnosis of severe RDS at birth. Following a two volume exchange transfusion with fresh CPD blood, lung mechanics improved significantly in that esophageal pressure excursions, relative to tidal volume, decreased to 0.5, 0.5, and 0.6 of control values in 3 of the infants while in the other 3 there was no significant change. In all infants the respiratory pattern improved and in most respiratory rate decreased. The shift to the right in the oxyhemoglobin equilibrium curve following exchange transfusion resulted in an increased venous PO2 and pH, PaO2 and PaCO2. These data suggest that whereas in some infants the improvement in mechanics of breathing could explain the improvement after exchange transfusion, in others, different mechanisms seem to be responsible.
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Delivoria-Papadopoulos, M., Chen, J., Branca, P. et al. THE EFFECT OF EXCHANGE TRANSFUSION ON PULMONARY FUNCTION OF INFANTS WITH SEVERE RESPIRATORY DISTRESS SYNDROME (RDS). Pediatr Res 8, 445 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197404000-00631
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197404000-00631
