Potential of early chest roentgen examination in ventilator treated newborn infants to predict future lung function and disease.

The potentially of early chest X-ray to predict the risk of lung function abnormalities was studied prospectively in 40 preterm ventilator treated infants in a 8-10-year follow-up investigation. According to the findings at chest X-ray 3 to 10 days after completed ventilator treatment the infants were divided into 3 groups considered to represent increasing risk and severity of lung damage: 1) normal findings, 2) interstitial parenchymal abnormalities exclusively or 3) in combination with local or general hyperinflation. Lung function tests and chest x-ray were performed at the age of 8 to 10 years. A correlation was found between the findings at the early chest roentgen examination and the risk of abnormal lung function at the follow-up. Occurrence of focal or general hyperinflation or both were associated with a greater risk of airway obstruction. Infants with only interstitial abnormalities were, however, at a higher risk than those with normal chest examination to develop general hyperinflation and increased air way obstruction.