Intrauterine inflammation alters cardiopulmonary but not cerebral hemodynamics during open endotracheal tube suction in preterm lambs

BACKGROUND: Intrauterine inflammation adversely affects cardiopulmonary, systemic, and cerebral hemodynamics in preterm neonates, but its impact on responses to endotracheal tube (ETT) suction, known to affect hemodynamics, is unknown. We hypothesized that intrauterine inflammation would alter the cardiopulmonary and cerebral hemodynamic response to open ETT suction in preterm lambs. METHODS: Chronically instrumented fetuses received intra-amniotic lipopolysaccharide (LPS; to induce intrauterine inflammation) or saline at 118 d of gestation (term 147 d). At 125 d of gestation, lambs were delivered and mechanically ventilated. Open ETT suction was performed 30 min after delivery. Pulmonary and cerebral arterial pressures and flows were recorded continuously. RESULTS: Intrauterine inflammation reduced pulmonary blood flow (PBF) and increased pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) after preterm birth. PBF and left-ventricular output (LVO) increased during and immediately after ETT suction in both groups, but the values were higher in LPS-exposed lambs. Preductal oxygenation significantly decreased during ETT suction but to a greater extent in LPS-exposed lambs. Cerebral blood flow and systemic arterial pressure were increased by open ETT suction similarly in the two groups. CONCLUSION: Intrauterine inflammation exacerbates the neonatal hemodynamic response to open ETT suction.