[Pulmonary complications during mechanical ventilation in the neonatal period].

The pulmonary complications (PC) during mechanical ventilation were caused by barotrauma, infection, oxygen toxicity and excessive pulmonary extravascular fluid. The most frequent manifestations are: pneumothorax, pulmonary haemorrhage and lobar or segmental athelectasis. This is a retrospective study conducted between 1.1.1990 till 31.8.2000. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of the pulmonary complications during mechanical ventilation in 163 ventilated neonates, as well as the relation towards gestational age, birth weight, primary disease and the outcome. The most common causes for mechanical ventilation were: hyaline membrane disease in 95 (58.3%) preterm babies, perinatal asphyxia in 26 (16%) and less frequent conditions such as: apnea, congenital heart diseases, neonatal infections and surgical cases. 25/163 (15.3%) ventilated pts have developed pneumothorax, 29 (17.7%) athelectasis and 14 (8.5%) pts had pulmonarly haemorrhage. The pulmonary complications were more frequent in preterm newborns with significant influence at the duration of the ventilation and the outcome. However, pulmonary complications could not be completely avoid, so we would like to underline the importance of preventive measures with the aim of decreasing PC incidence.