Abstract
INTRODUCTION: SpO2, heart rate, and systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial blood pressure are among the commonly applied and most frequently chosen indicators of well-being of newborns in intensive care units. Objective: to determine the relationship between the aforementioned parameters and the status of newborns depending on the outcome of the Infant Flow (I-F) therapy, and the development of complications in the form of pneumothorax. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective single-centre study covering the years 2009-2014. A total of 182 neonates, with mean gestational age 34.1 weeks and mean body weight 2226 g, were analysed. The minimum and maximum values of the evaluated parameters were analysed statistically according to the therapy outcome noted as success or failure. RESULTS: A successful outcome of I-F therapy (71.4%) was characterised by higher SpO2 (93.3 ±7.28 vs. 85.9 ±14.77 at P < 0.001; 99.95 ±0.31 vs. 98.6 ±3.30 at P < 0.0001), lower heart rate (122.5 ±12.37 vs. 135.9 ±14.97 at P < 0.0001), and higher max systolic blood pressure (79.05 ±12.49 vs. 69.78 ±13.73 mm Hg at P < 0.0001), max diastolic blood pressure (57.03 ±9.31 vs. 50.41 ±13.82 mm Hg; P < 0.0003), and max as well as min mean arterial blood pressure (46.8 ±10.13 vs. 41.39 ±15.46 mm Hg; P < 0.001) (27.88 ±5.71 vs. 26.14 ±7.35 mm Hg; P < 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: In newborns suffering from respiratory failure and treated with I-F, higher SpO2 values, lower heart rate, and higher arterial blood pressure coincide with success of the I-F therapy.