Ellen de Kort

46 Chapter 3 Table 2. Patient characteristics and study outcomes in study periods 1 and 2 Study period 1 n = 5 Study period 2 n = 9 Patient characteristics Gestational age (weeks), median (range) 29 2/7 (28 0/7 to 35 0/7) 28 3/7 (27 3/7 to 32 0/7) Birth weight (g), median (range) 1,320 (920 – 2,200) 1,130 (910 – 1,860) Gender 1 male, 4 females 4 males, 5 females Primary outcome measures – sedation parameters with remifentanil Adequate sedation score (3 or 4) 2 (40) 6 (67) Adequate intubation score (≤10) 2 (40) 4 (44) Side effects (chest wall rigidity) 0 6 (67) Adequate sedation 1 (20) 1 (11) Secondary outcome measures Doses of remifentanil 1 1 (20) 2 (22) 2 2 (40) 5 (56) 3 1 (20) 1 (11) 4 1 (20) 1 (11) Propofol needed 2 (40) 4 (44) Intubation attempts 1 2 (40) 5 (56) 2 2 (40) 3 (33) 3 1 (20) 0 Not reported 0 1 (11) Outcome measures are presented as patients, n (%) unless otherwise indicated. Secondary Outcome Measures Overall, six patients (43%) needed propofol to reach adequate sedation. In the eight patients that achieved an adequate sedation score with only remifentanil, three (38%) needed 1 dose, four (50%) received 2 doses and one (12%) received 4 doses. Themaximum dose was 1 μg/kg in three patients (38%), 2 μg/kg in two patients (25%) and 3 μg/kg in three patients (38%). Table 2 displays the number of remifentanil doses in both study periods. Overall, intubation was successful at the first attempt in 54% of patients, 38% of patients required a second and 8% a third attempt. Four intubation attempts failed due to inadequate sedation.