Compliance measurement in respiratory distress syndrome: The prediction of outcome

Dynamic compliance (Cdyn) measurements within the first three days of life predicted survival in 60 preterm infants suffering from respiratory distress syndrome. Cdyn was measured in 47 survivors at 2.3 ± 1.4 days of life and in 13 nonsurvivors on 2.7 ± 1.7 days. All nonsurvivors died from respiratory failure within the first two weeks of life. Mean Cdyn of the survivors was 0.83 ± 0.33 ml/cm H2O and of the nonsurvivors 0.35 ± 0.19 ml/cm H2O (p < 0.001). Cdyn values below 0.45 ml/cm H2O predicted 11 of 13 deaths in infants, and Cdyn measurements above this value predicted 45 of 47 survivals, with a specificity of 81% and a sensitivity of 89%. Eleven of the survivors, who subsequently developed bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), had a mean Cdyn of 0.56 ± 0.23 ml/cm H2O. When these infants were matched with infants of comparable weight without evidence of BPD, the BPD group had a significantly lower Cdyn (p < 0.05). Cdyn measurements during the first three days of life are useful in predicting outcome of respiratory failure secondary to respiratory distress syndrome.