OBJECTIVETo investigate the efficacy of volume-targeted ventilation (VTV) for the treatment of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS).

METHODSFifty-two neonates with NRDS between August 2013 and August 2015 were randomly divided into two groups: VTV and pressure-controlled ventilation (PCV) (n=26 each ). A/C+Vc+ ventilation model was applied in the VTV group, and A/C+PCV ventilation model was applied in the PCV group. Arterial blood gas analysis was performed at 6, 24, and 48 hours after ventilation. The following parameters were observed: time of invasive ventilation, duration of oxygen therapy, mortality, and the incidence rates of hypocapnia, pneumothorax, ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), grade III-IV periventricular-intraventricular hemorrhage (PVH-IVH), periventricular leukomalacia (PVL), bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).

RESULTSCompared with the PCV group, the VTV group had a significantly shorter time of invasive ventilation (P<0.05) and significantly lower incidence rates of hypocapnia, VAP, and PVL (P<0.05); however, there were no significant differences in the duration of oxygen therapy, mortality, and incidence rates of pneumothorax, grade III-IV PVH-IVH, BPD, and ROP.

CONCLUSIONSVTV has a better efficacy than PCV in the treatment of NRDS, and is worthy of clinical promotion and application.