LiquiVent perfluorocarbon liquid oxygen carrier data

A safety study in 13 premature babies who had failed other therapies, including liquid surfactant therapy, showed that partial liquid ventilation with perfluorocarbon liquid can allow survival of some infants not expected to live. As reported in The New England Journal of Medicine, 10 of the 13 babies received partial liquid ventilation for 24-76 hours, while the treatment had to be discontinued in the other 3 due to persistent need for high frequency gas ventilation (not permitted by the protocol, but required to get rid of high levels of carbon dioxide).

Of the 13 enrolled, 8 survived to 36 weeks corrected gestational age (age at birth plus age after birth), including 2 of the 3 who were withdrawn from the treatment. Three were breathing room air, 4 were weaned to room air by 60 days, and 1 continued to require mechanical ventilation (this one died at five months). Neurologic assessment in 7, at four months of age, showed normal hearing and vision, with mental and psychomotor development appropriate for adjusted age except for a slight delay in 1 of the babies, which resolved at 12 months. ...