The High Frequency Ventilation in Premature Infants
Study (HIFI)
Objectives:
To evaluate the hypothesis that high frequency
oscillatory ventilation in preterm infants would reduce the incidence of
mortality and pulmonary complications compared to conventional mechanical
ventilation.
Background:
With the introduction of mechanical ventilation in
preterm infants, mortality and morbidity significantly improved but remained
high. The improvement in survival that accompanied the use of mechanical
ventilation also brought about an increase in the incidence of pulmonary
complications. The principal complication occurs in the form of
bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Barotrauma and oxygen toxicity are considered to be
in the pathogenesis for this disorder. Considerable interest in high frequency
ventilation for preterm infants was generated when animal studies indicated
high frequency ventilation to be effective in promoting gas exchange without
apparent adverse effects. High Frequency Ventilation (HFV) delivers small tidal
volumes at high frequencies of 4 to 15 Hz, and animal studies had indicated
that HFV was associated with effective gas exchange, less barotrauma, and lower
mean airway pressure. However, the efficacy and safety of HFV in preterm
infants had not been studied. The HIFI Planning Phase was initiated in August
1984, and recruitment and intervention began in February 1986. Follow-up
studies continued thru September 1988.
Subjects:
Infants were eligible if they weighed between 750 and
2000 grams at birth, had respiratory failure in the first 24 hours of life, and
had been treated with conventional mechanical ventilation for less than 12
hours prior to randomization. Infants weighing between 750 and 1250 grams were
eligible independently of their respiratory failure while infants weighing
between 1250 and 2000 grams were eligible only if they had severe lung disease.
Infants were excluded if they had any of the following: meconium aspiration,
neuromuscular conditions affecting respiration, hydrops fetalis, congenital
heart disease, except for patent ductus arteriosus, major malformations,
diaphragmatic hernia, hydroplastic lungs, or multiple births of three or more
infants. The endpoints of the study included incident bronchopulmonary
dysplasia, need for ventilatory support at 72 hours and 28 days postnatal age,
crossover between the two arms, and mortality prior to the postnatal 28th day.
A total of 685 infants were randomized into the study. Treatment could not be
initiated in 12 infants due to early mortality or withdrawal of parental
consent, therefore a total of 673 infants were enrolled.
Conclusions:
Bronchopulmonary dysplasia incidence was similar in
the two groups as was mortality and the need for ventilatory support during the
first 28 days. There was a significantly greater rate of pneumoperitoneum of
pulmonary origin in the high frequency group as was a greater incidence rate of
intracranial hemorrhage. (NEJM, 1989; 320:88-93)
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Study Website |
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Study Documentation |
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Data Distribution Agreement |
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