High frequency oscillatory ventilation was not more effective than conventional ventilation in preterm infants
QUESTION: In preterm infants who are 23–28 weeks gestational age, does high frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) reduce death and chronic lung disease when compared with conventional ventilation (CV)?
Design
Randomised (unclear allocation concealment), unblinded, controlled trial with 8–13 weeks of follow up for the primary outcome.
Setting
25 centres: 22 in the UK and 1 each in Australia, Ireland, and Singapore.
Patients
870 infants were randomised before or just after delivery. 804 surviving infants who required endotracheal intubation from birth and ongoing intensive care were included. Exclusion criteria were transfer to another hospital for intensive care shortly after birth or major congenital abnormality. 797 infants (92%) (mean gestational age 26.5 wks, 54% boys) were included in the analysis.
Intervention
After stratification for gestational age and centre, infants were allocated to HFOV (n=400) or CV (n=397) within 1 hour of birth. HFOV …
