Influence of time under mechanical ventilation on bronchopulmonary dysplasia severity in extremely preterm infants: a pilot study.

Background: The relation between mechanical ventilation (MV) and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) - a common disease in extremely premature newborn (PTNB) - is well stabilished, but is unknown, however, how much time under MV influences the severity of the disease.

Aim: To define the duration under MV with greater chance to develop moderate to severe BPD in extremely PTNB and to compare clinical outcomes before and during hospitalization among patients with mild and moderate to severe BPD.

Methods: Fifty-three PTNB were separated into mild and moderate to severe BPD groups and their data were analyzed.