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Minimal Breathing Support and Early Steroids to Prevent Chronic Lung Disease in Extremely Premature Infants (SAVE)

Phase 3
Terminated
Conditions
Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia
Respiratory Distress Syndrome
Infant, Newborn
Infant, Low Birth Weight
Infant, Small for Gestational Age
Infant, Premature
Interventions
Procedure: Minimal mechanical ventilation management
Procedure: Routine mechanical ventilation management
Drug: Placebo
Registration Number
NCT00005777
Lead Sponsor
NICHD Neonatal Research Network
Brief Summary

This multicenter clinical trial tested whether minimal ventilation decreases death or BPD. Infants with birth weight 501g to 1000g and mechanically ventilated before 12 hours were randomly assigned to minimal ventilation (partial pressure of carbon dioxide \[PCO(2)\] target \>52 mm Hg) or routine ventilation (PCO(2) target \<48 mm Hg) and a tapered dexamethasone course or saline placebo for 10 days, using a 2 x 2 factorial design. The primary outcome was death or BPD at 36 weeks' postmenstrual age. Blood gases, ventilator settings, and FiO2 were recorded for 10 days; complications and outcomes were monitored to discharge. The infants' neurodevelopment was evaluated at 18-22 months corrected age.

Detailed Description

Chronic lung disease (CLD), also known as bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), in very premature infants has been associated with mechanical ventilation and relative adrenal insufficiency.

This multicenter clinical trial tested whether minimal ventilation decreases death or BPD. Infants with birth weight 501g to 1000g and mechanically ventilated before 12 hours were randomly assigned to minimal ventilation (partial pressure of carbon dioxide \[PCO(2)\] target \>52 mm Hg) or routine ventilation (PCO(2) target \<48 mm Hg) and a tapered dexamethasone course or saline placebo for 10 days, using a 2 x 2 factorial design. The primary outcome was death or BPD at 36 weeks' postmenstrual age. Blood gases, ventilator settings, and FiO2 were recorded for 10 days; complications and outcomes were monitored to discharge.

The trial was terminated by the Steering Committee when the interim analysis for the Data Safety and Monitoring Committee showed a higher rate of spontaneous gastrointestinal perforations in the dexamethasone-treated infants.

Neurodevelopment was assessed at 18-22 months postmenstrual age.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
TERMINATED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
220
Inclusion Criteria
  • Greater than 12 hrs of age and less than 10 days chronologic age
  • 501-1000 gm
  • Intubated and mechanically ventilated before 12 hrs
  • Indwelling vascular catheter
  • Infants 751-100 gm must be receiving FiO2 greater than 0.30 and have received at least 1 dose of surfactant at randomization
  • Parental consent
Exclusion Criteria
  • Major congenital anomaly
  • Symptomatic non-bacterial infection
  • Permanent neuromuscular conditions that affect respiration
  • Terminal illness (defined as pH values less than 6.8 for more than 2 hours or persistent bradycardia associated with hypoxia for more than 2 hours)
  • Use of postnatal corticosteroids

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
FACTORIAL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Minimal ventilation with DexamethasoneMinimal mechanical ventilation managementMinimal ventilator support strategy (permissive hypercapnia) and early stress dose dexamethasone therapy
Minimal Ventilation without DexamethasoneMinimal mechanical ventilation managementMinimal ventilator support strategy (permissive hypercapnia) and no dexamethasone therapy
Minimal Ventilation without DexamethasonePlaceboMinimal ventilator support strategy (permissive hypercapnia) and no dexamethasone therapy
Routine ventilation with DexamethasoneRoutine mechanical ventilation management-
Routine ventilation with DexamethasoneDexamethasone-
Routine ventilation without DexamethasoneRoutine mechanical ventilation management-
Routine ventilation without DexamethasonePlacebo-
Minimal ventilation with DexamethasoneDexamethasoneMinimal ventilator support strategy (permissive hypercapnia) and early stress dose dexamethasone therapy
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Death or moderate to severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia36 weeks postmenstrual age
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Death18-22 months corrected age
Mechanical ventilation36 weeks postmenstrual age
Pulmonary interstitial emphysema36 weeks postmenstrual age
Pneumothorax36 weeks postmenstrual age
Open-label steroids36 weeks postmenstrual age
Reintubation36 weeks postmenstrual age
Intracranial hemorrhage (IVH) III or IV36 weeks postmenstrual age
Periventricular leukomalacia36 weeks postmenstrual age
Necrotizing enterocolitis36 weeks postmenstrual age
Duration of oxygen supplementation36 weeks postmenstrual age
Duration of ventilation36 weeks postmenstrual age
Length of hospitalizationHospital discharge
Death or neurodevelopmental impairment18-22 months corrected age
Neurodevelopmental impairment18-22 months corrected age
Cerebral palsy18-22 months corrected age
Bilateral blindness18-22 months corrected age
Deafness18-22 months corrected age
Bayley Scales of Infant Development-Revised II Psychomotor Developmental Index (PDI)18-22 months corrected age
Rehospitalizations18-22 months corrected age

Trial Locations

Locations (13)

Stanford University

🇺🇸

Palo Alto, California, United States

Case Western Reserve University, Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital

🇺🇸

Cleveland, Ohio, United States

University of Alabama at Birmingham

🇺🇸

Birmingham, Alabama, United States

Wayne State University

🇺🇸

Detroit, Michigan, United States

University of Tennessee

🇺🇸

Memphis, Tennessee, United States

RTI International

🇺🇸

Durham, North Carolina, United States

Emory University

🇺🇸

Atlanta, Georgia, United States

Cincinnati Children's Medical Center

🇺🇸

Cincinnati, Ohio, United States

Brown University, Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island

🇺🇸

Providence, Rhode Island, United States

University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas

🇺🇸

Dallas, Texas, United States

University of Miami

🇺🇸

Miami, Florida, United States

University of New Mexico

🇺🇸

Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States

Yale University

🇺🇸

New Haven, Connecticut, United States

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