Performance of the Silverman Andersen Respiratory Severity Score in predicting PCO2 and respiratory support in newborns: a prospective cohort study

• DOI: 10.1038/s41372-018-0049-3
• Publication Date: 2018-02-09T16:10:13Z
• Authors: Anna Bruett Hedstrom; Nancy E. Gove; Dennis E. Mayock; Maneesh Batra
• Keywords: Male; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn; Continuous Positive Airway Pressure; Infant, Newborn; Gestational Age; Carbon Dioxide; Severity of Illness Index; Article; 3. Good health; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Respiratory Rate; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; Birth Weight; Humans; Female; Prospective Studies; Blood Gas Analysis

To determine if the Silverman Andersen respiratory severity score, which is assessed by physical exam, within 1 h of birth is associated with elevated carbon dioxide level and/or the need for increased respiratory support.Prospective cohort study including 140 neonates scored within 1 h of birth. We report respiratory scores and their association with carbon dioxide and respiratory support within 24 h.Carbon dioxide level correlated with respiratory score (n = 33, r = 0.35, p = 0.045). However, mean carbon dioxide for patients with score <5 vs. ≥5 did not differ significantly (56 vs. 67, p = 0.095). Patients with respiratory scores ≥5 had respiratory support increased within 24 h more often than those with scores <5 (79% vs. 28%, p < 0.001).The Silverman Andersen respiratory severity score may be valuable for predicting need for escalation of respiratory support and facilitate decision making for transfer in low-resource settings.