Adequacy of tidal volume offered during invasive mechanical ventilation in preterm infants

OBJECTIVE: To verify the adequacy of the tidal volume (VT) of the preterm newborn (PTNB) under mechanical ventilation according to the parameter adjustments made by the team and to compare it with the ideal tidal volume for the weight. METHOD: This is a cross-sectional study with a sample composed of PTNB with gestational age (GA) <37 weeks hospitalized in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Hospital Agamenon Magalhães. Six VT measurements were collected for 60 seconds and the adequacy of the VT found was assessed by calculating the ideal tidal volume (VTi) using the formula Vti = 4ml / kg x current weight. RESULT: The sample of 16 premature infants, 68.7% had inadequate TV at the time of collection. PTNBs with GA above 30 weeks obtained a statistically higher TV (TV = 12.27 ± 2.22mL). When corrected for weight, those with GA <30 had a corrected VT of 9.34 ± 4.63 mL / Kg, not statistically significant, but mportante from a clinical point of view. CONCLUSION: It was found that PTNB below 30 weeks were exposed to VT greater than the ideal range for weight. With this, it is possible to identify the importance of continuous monitoring of the VT, favoring a better ventilatory assistance, minimizing lung injuries.