To assess arterial blood gas values and respiratory rates during transient tachypnea of the newborn detected in the first hour of postnatal life, and to investigate whether any of these parameters can be a good predictor of the duration of respiratory support. Materials and methods: Data were collected from the charts of newborns with a gestation of >=37 weeks born in our hospital and admitted to our neonatal intensive care unit with a diagnosis of transient tachypnea of the newborn between January 2007 and December 2009. Patients with respiratory support of >=5 days were accepted as group A and those with respiratory support of >5 days as group B. The groups were compared with each other on the basis of arterial blood gas values of pH, PaCO2, PaO2, oxygen saturation, and respiratory rate detected in the first hour of postnatal life. Results: Group A consisted of 41 (46%) patients and group B consisted of 48 (54%) patients. The PaO2 and oxygen saturation levels of group B were significantly lower than those of group A. Time to tolerate full enteral feeding was also significantly longer for group B than for group A. From the total blood gas values, PaO2 and oxygen saturation were found to be sensitive parameters that can predict the duration of respiratory support. Patients with pH of >=7.22 (sensitivity, 97.6%; specificity, 8.3%; OR, 3.6), PaO2 of >=70 mmHg (sensitivity, 92.7%; specificity, 29.2%; OR, 5.2), and oxygen saturation of >=80% (sensitivity, 92.7%; specificity, 31.2%; OR, 5.7) were found to be strong candidates for needing respiratory support for more than 5 days. Conclusion: According to our results, patients with pH of >=7.22, PaO2 of >=70 mmHg, and oxygen saturation of ≤80% seem to be patients that will need respiratory support for more than 5 days.

To assess arterial blood gas values and respiratory rates during transient tachypnea of the newborn detected in the first hour of postnatal life, and to investigate whether any of these parameters can be a good predictor of the duration of respiratory support. Materials and methods: Data were collected from the charts of newborns with a gestation of >=37 weeks born in our hospital and admitted to our neonatal intensive care unit with a diagnosis of transient tachypnea of the newborn between January 2007 and December 2009. Patients with respiratory support of >=5 days were accepted as group A and those with respiratory support of >5 days as group B. The groups were compared with each other on the basis of arterial blood gas values of pH, PaCO2, PaO2, oxygen saturation, and respiratory rate detected in the first hour of postnatal life. Results: Group A consisted of 41 (46%) patients and group B consisted of 48 (54%) patients. The PaO2 and oxygen saturation levels of group B were significantly lower than those of group A. Time to tolerate full enteral feeding was also significantly longer for group B than for group A. From the total blood gas values, PaO2 and oxygen saturation were found to be sensitive parameters that can predict the duration of respiratory support. Patients with pH of >=7.22 (sensitivity, 97.6%; specificity, 8.3%; OR, 3.6), PaO2 of >=70 mmHg (sensitivity, 92.7%; specificity, 29.2%; OR, 5.2), and oxygen saturation of >=80% (sensitivity, 92.7%; specificity, 31.2%; OR, 5.7) were found to be strong candidates for needing respiratory support for more than 5 days. Conclusion: According to our results, patients with pH of >=7.22, PaO2 of >=70 mmHg, and oxygen saturation of ≤80% seem to be patients that will need respiratory support for more than 5 days.