Follow-Up at 6 Years of a Cohort of Children Born Very Prematurely

Follow-Up at 6 Years of a Cohort of Children Born Very Prematurely With Respiratory and Neurodevelopmental Impact of Early Treatment With Inhaled Nitric Oxide

Utilization of nitric oxide (NO) therapy has been related to a trend towards short term improvement in very premature infants. A two year follow-up of children treated soon after birth with NO in the neonatal period, suggests that a significant improvement in neurodevelopmental outcome might occur. This study aims to evaluate follow-up at 6 years, in respiratory and neurodevelopmental outcome, of children born very prematurely, some of them having been treated with nitric oxide in the neonatal period.

Utilization of nitric oxide therapy in the neonatal period has been related to a trend towards short term improvements in respiratory and neurological outcome at 28 days postnatal age or 36 weeks postconceptional age. A two year follow-up in children treated soon after birth with NO in the neonatal period, suggests that a significant improvement in neurodevelopmental outcome might occur. No long term evaluation on respiratory outcome has yet been done. This study aims to evaluate respiratory and neurodevelopmental outcome at 6 years of age in children born very prematurely, some of them having had Nitric Oxide as a rescue treatment for respiratory distress syndrome.

Inclusion Criteria:

• All infants included at birth in a randomized controlled trial using early nitric oxide therapy

Exclusion Criteria:

• Parental refusal