[Prospective clinical survey of respiratory failure in neonates from the Children's Hospital of Hebei Province].

OBJECTIVE

Neonatal respiratory failure (RF) is a serious clinical problem associated with high mortality. This study aimed to investigate the incidence and outcome of neonatal RF in the Children's Hospital of Hebei Province.

METHODS

The medical data of 304 RF infants who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of the Children's Hospital of Hebei Province between March 2004 and February 2005 were prospectively studied.

RESULTS

The incidence of RF was 35.7% in the NICU during the 12-month period. Respiratory distress syndrome (28.4%), amniotic fluid aspiration syndrome (22.9%), and pneumonia (14.7%) were leading diseases resulting in RF. Of the 304 patients, 17 (5.6%) died of RF, 96 (31.6%) discontinued therapy on account of various causes and 191 (62.8%) recovered or improved. The mean length of hospital stay was 14.9+/-7.1 days and the mean medical cost was 7977+/-3 426 CNY for the 191 survivors.

CONCLUSIONS

The morbidity, mortality and medical costs of neonatal RF are high in Hebei Province. It is essential to improve the quality in respiratory therapy and perinatal care in order to reduce the morbidity and mortality related to high-risk pregnancies.