VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTOR IN MECHNICALLY VENTILATED

This work was conducted to estimate the level of vascular endothelial growth factor in tracheal aspirates of mechanically ventilated neonates with respiratory distress which may be helpful as a prognostic marker in these cases .The current study comprised 30 preterm neonates ( with gestational age ≤ 37weeks ) . All neonates had respiratory distress and underwent mechanical ventilation. 30 tracheal aspirates samples were taken from those neonates and analyzed for VEGF . The neonates were divided into two groups :- Group 1 : included 25 neonates ( 9 males and 16 females ) who were suffering from primary lung disease e g HMD , Congenital pneumonia , Meconium aspiration , etc. …) .The mean birth weight ( 2.93 ± 0.7 ) kg , The mean length ( 47.8 ± 2.3 ) cm and the mean gestational age ( 34.5 ± 2.4 ) weeks .Ten (10) neonates of group 1 had developed BPD and were considered as subgroup 1A , the other 15 neonates of group 1 which had no BPD were considered as subgroup 1B .The mean birth weight of subgroup 1A (BPD) ( 2.3 ± 0.6 ) kg versus ( 3.3 ± 0.4 ) kg of subgroup 1B (no BPD) , The mean length of subgroup 1A (BPD) ( 45.9 ± 2.4 ) cm versus (49.1 ± 1.1 ) cm of subgroup 1B (no BPD). the mean gestational age subgroup 1A (BPD) ( 32.9 ± 2.5 ) weeks versus ( 35.9 ± 1.5 ) weeks of subgroup 1B (no BPD)- Group 2 : included 5 neonates ( 4 males and 1 females ) who were suffering from non primary lung disease e g congenital heart diseases ,bilateral choanal atresia…etc .The mean birth weight ( 3.2 ± 0.15 ) kg , The mean length ( 49.6 ± 0.5 ) cm and the mean gestational age ( 36.7 ± 1.2 ) weeks