International Guidelines on the Management of neonatal RDS

The aim of management of RDS is to provide interventions that will maximize the number of survivors whilst minimizing potential adverse effects. Over the past 40 years many strategies and therapies for prevention and treatment of RDS have been developed and tested in clinical trials, many of which have now been subjected to systematic reviews. Unfortunately randomised trials do not always provide all of the answers when it comes to practical decision making regarding protocols in individual units, or when dealing with individual babies and sometimes we need to rely on experience. This document reports the findings of a panel of experts from Europe who have developed consensus guidelines after critical examination of the most up-to-date evidence in early 2007.
The panel was made up of 9 senior neonatologists from 8 European countries. Each panelist was asked to prepare a section of the guideline, appropriately referenced, for consideration by the rest of the panel. The quality of the evidence was graded using standardized methodology, with the highest quality evidence being that derived from high quality randomized controlled trials, or meta-analysis of high quality trials. In areas where evidence was weak or lacking the panel was asked to deliver a consensus opinion on what they would consider the most appropriate management given their experience and expertise in the field. The guideline is not intended to be prescriptive but rather reflect sensible practice within a modern neonatal intensive care setting in Western Europe. The recommendations reflect the views of the panel given the best evidence at the time of writing and it is likely that some of the guidelines will need to be revised as more evidence becomes available.

Dr David Sweet
Professor Henry Halliday
Regional Neonatal Unit, Royal Maternity Hospital and Dept of Child Health,
Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK.

European Consensus Guidelines on the Management of Neonatal Respiratory Distress Syndrome
Sweet D, Bevilacqua G, Carnielli V, Greisen G, Plavka R, Saugstad OD, Simeoni U, Speer CP, Valls-i-Soler A, Halliday H (pdf 96 kb)

Project sponsored by Chiesi
With an unconditional medical grant

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