Hydrocortisone use in ventilated extremely preterm infants decreased bronchopulmonary dysplasia with no effects on neurodevelopment after two years.

Aim: We assessed the outcomes of ventilated extremely premature infants treated with late postnatal corticosteroids from 2005-2008, according to permissive or restrictive policies in two centres.

Methods: This retrospective study included inborn infants below 27 weeks of gestational age who were ventilator dependent after 14 days. Centre P permitted postnatal corticosteroids but centre R restricted their use.