Lower gas flows during respiratory support for extremely preterm infants

All babies born extremely preterm (<28 weeks’ gestation) require breathing support to survive. However, this support can damage their lungs. Rates of bronchopulmonary dysplasia, the chronic

lung disease of prematurity, are increasing despite ‘lung protective’ ventilation strategies that aim to minimise harm to the lung. Work from the Neonatal Research group at Murdoch Children Research Institute has shown that gas flows lower than currently used during respiratory support of these infants may be a major, and easily modifiable, contributor to preterm lung injury. Current guidelines lack evidence for suggested gas flow settings. My research program will address a fundamental question underlying all forms of respiratory support for extremely preterm infants: what are the optimal gas flows that provide adequate support to the neonatal lung without causing harm?