The Journal of pediatrics
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The Journal of pediatrics · Mar 1987
Serial determination of pulmonary function in infants with chronic lung disease.
Pulmonary function was measured in 39 infants with chronic lung disease who had required mechanical ventilation starting during the first week of life for a median of 9 days (range 1 to 46 days) and supplemental oxygen for a median of 48 days (range 28-162 days). Their mean birth weight was 1140 g (range 550 to 2325 g), and mean gestational age 29.8 weeks (range 26 to 37 weeks). Ventilation was measured by pneumotachography, esophageal pressure through a water-filled feeding tube, and functional residual capacity (FRC) by a modified nitrogen washout technique. ⋯ There was no evidence of gas trapping. These results indicate that in infants with chronic lung disease after mechanical ventilation, lung volume increases normally, probably by formation of new alveoli, which also leads to improvement in lung compliance. Airway growth is slow during the first 6 months after birth, but the subsequent faster growth leads to conductance values close to normal at 3 years of age.