Abstract
Many neonatologists treat premature infants who cannot be weaned from ventilator support with dexamethasone to improve pulmonary compliance and facilitate extubation.
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Overall, however, these apparent short-term benefits of dexamethasone therapy are not reflected in a substantial decrease in the duration of oxygen therapy, the length of hospital stay, or later pulmonary morbidity.
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In addition, some treated infants may have glucose intolerance and hypertension while receiving dexamethasone.
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Treating ventilator-dependent premature infants shortly after birth with dexamethasone may mitigate acute lung injury and reduce the incidence of chronic lung disease.
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However, the risks of starting dexamethasone at . . .
