Predictive factors of continuous negative extrathoracic pressure management failure in children with moderate to severe respiratory syncytial virus infection

Continuous negative extrathoracic pressure (CNEP) might be beneficial for children with severe respiratory tract infections. However, there are no available data on the predictors of its failure among individuals with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections. Here, we conducted a retrospective cohort study between October 1, 2015 and October 31, 2018 in hospitalized children with moderate to severe symptoms of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections. We divided 45 children requiring CNEP ventilation with a non-fluctuating negative pressure of − 12 cm H(2)O into two groups. They were classified based on improvement or deterioration of their respiratory disorder under CNEP ventilation (responder group: n = 27, failure group: n = 18). Based on the univariate analysis, the responder and failure groups significantly differed in terms of median age, days elapsed from RSV onset to the initiation of CNEP, white blood cell count (WBC), titer of venous pCO(2), body temperature at admission, and modified Wood-Downes Score (mWDS) 6 h after initiating CNEP. Based on a logistic regression analysis adjusted for age < 1 year upon admission, less than 5 days elapsed from RSV onset to the initiation of CNEP, not high value of WBC and body temperature at admission, and high values of mWDS 6 h after initiating CNEP were found to be significant independent risk factors for CNEP ventilation failure. The former two variables were associated with less failure (odds ratio was approximately 5), and the latter two variables are associated with more failure (odds ratio was approximately 8–9). Thus, CNEP could be a valid option for children with moderate to severe RSV infections, especially in those who were aged > 1 year, and specific clinical and laboratory findings.