Analysis of postextubation complications incidence in newborns of neonatal progressive care unit of Federal University of Minas Gerais Clinics Hospital

Abstract

Respiratory diseases and perinatal period affection are important co-morbidities responsible for hospital admissions. Mechanical ventilation is applied to provide mechanical support to the pulmonary gas exchange; to increase lung volume and reduce breathing effort. However, its continuous and frequent use can cause traumas, such as airways inflammation and increase of pulmonary secretions. So, after mechanical ventilation interruption and extubation of the premature newborn, these factors can contribute to respiratory complications for example atelectasis, re-intubation and apnea. The aim of the study was to analyze the incidence of post-extubation complications in pre-term newborns, interned at Neonatal Progressive Care Unit of a university hospital. It is a descriptive study that analyses medical records data of 23 newborns with 26 to 37 weeks gestational age, birth weight above 1000 g and who needed mechanical ventilation in the first week of life for a period longer than 48 hours. Data were collected since the first day of life until 48 hours postextubation and presented as average and standard deviation. The frequency of the complications was calculated and Spearman test (p < 0,05) was used to the analysis of correlations. There were no records of incidence of post-extubation atelectasis. Incidences of re-intubation and apnea were, respectively, 8, 7% and 4, 3%. There was a low incidence of post-extubation complications in pre-term newborns interned in Neonatal Progressive Care Unit at the university hospital