PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Wilkie, R A
AU  - Bryan, M H
AU  - Tarnow-Mordi, W O
TI  - Static respiratory compliance in the newborn. II: Its potential for improving the selection of infants for early surfactant treatment.
AID  - 10.1136/fn.70.1.F16
DP  - 1994 Jan 01
TA  - Archives of Disease in Childhood - Fetal and Neonatal Edition
PG  - F16--F18
VI  - 70
IP  - 1
4099  - http://fn.bmj.com/content/70/1/F16.short
4100  - http://fn.bmj.com/content/70/1/F16.full
SO  - Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed1994 Jan 01; 70
AB  - Static respiratory system compliance (Crs) and lecithin/sphingomyelin (L/S) ratios in tracheal aspirates were estimated in two independent groups of mechanically ventilated infants. Crs was measured rapidly at the cotside using a passive expiratory flow technique and L/S ratios were estimated in the laboratory by high performance liquid chromatography. In the reference group of 22 infants, Crs < 1.8 ml/cm H2O/m predicted surfactant deficiency with a positive predictive value of 100% and a negative predictive value of 92%. In the validation group of 23 infants, Crs < 1.8 ml/cm H2O/m predicted surfactant deficiency with a positive predictive value of 94% and a negative predictive value of 83%. Measurement of static Crs is a rapid, non-invasive technique which may usefully supplement current methods of selecting infants at high risk of respiratory distress syndrome.