Mean (SE) duration of mechanical ventilation, length of stay (LOS) in the paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) and hospital, and supplemental oxygen in days in the two treatment groups according to subgroup analysis*
| Dexamethasone | Placebo | 95% CI for difference | p value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| *Arterial blood gas analysis was available for 37 patients in the dexamethasone group and 43 patients in the placebo group. | ||||
| †Bronchiolitis group: patients with Pao2/Fio2 >200 mm Hg and/or mean airway pressure ⩽10 cm H2O. | ||||
| ‡Pneumonia group: patients with Pao2/Fio2 ⩽200 mm Hg and MAP >10 cm H2O. | ||||
| Bronchiolitis group† | ||||
| n | 18 | 21 | ||
| Duration of mechanical ventilation | 4.9 (0.5) | 9.2 (1.6) | −7.8 to −0.8 | 0.02 |
| LOS PICU | 7.9 (1.4) | 10.3 (1.6) | −6.8 to 2.0 | 0.28 |
| LOS hospital | 14.9 (2.0) | 16.0 (1.9) | −6.7 to 4.5 | 0.11 |
| Duration of supplemental oxygen | 7.7 (0.9) | 11.3 (1.6) | −8.0 to −0.1 | 0.048 |
| Pneumonia group‡ | ||||
| n | 19 | 22 | ||
| Duration of mechanical ventilation | 8.9 (1.1) | 8.1 (1.0) | −2.2 to 3.6 | 0.61 |
| LOS PICU | 10.1 (1.1) | 9.9 (1.2) | −3.1 to 3.5 | 0.90 |
| LOS hospital | 16.7 (2.2) | 14.1 (1.5) | −2.8 to 8.0 | 0.34 |
| Duration of supplemental oxygen | 12.1 (1.9) | 10.4 (1.0) | −2.7 to 6.1 | 0.50 |