Pulmonary Effects of Neonatal Hydrocortisone Treatment in Ventilator-Dependent Preterm Infants

Table 2

Respiratory characteristics.

Characteristics	Total (𝑛=55)	%
Duration of ventilation (days)^b	15.0 (5–69) *
HFOV before treatment^c	34.0	61.8
Postnatal age at start of HC (days)^b	11 (7–44)
Duration of HC (days)^d	21.0 (9.0)
HC dose (mg/kg mean weight)^d	56.9 (28.2)
Extubation after start HC (days)^d	4.0 (4.0)
IRDS^c
Grades I-II	23	41.8
Grades III-IV	32	58.2
Surfactant^c
No	6	10.9
Yes	49	89.1
Pneumothorax^c	12	21.8

Data are shown as ^bmedian (range), ^c𝑛 or ^dmedian (interquartile range).
HFOV: high frequency oscillation ventilation; HC: hydrocortisone; IRDS: infant respiratory distress syndrome.
*In one case it took 69 days to wean the child from ventilator because of ongoing sepsis.