Frusemide in respiratory distress syndrome.

Savage, M. O., Wilkinson, A. R., Baum, J. D., Roberton, N. R. C. (1975). Archives of Disease in Childhood, 50, 709. Frusemide in respiratory distress syndrome. The effect of frusemide on urinary volume, urinary sodium excretion, and urinary calcium excretion in 7 premature infants with severe respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) has been studied. The results are compared with similar measurements on 13 infants of comparable gestational age and birthweight with less severe RDS who did not receive frusemide. The effect of frusemide on PaO2 and PaCO2 tensions in 5 infants with RDS was also investigated. Frusemide produced a fourfold increase in urinary volume and a tenfold increase in urinary sodium and urinary calcium excretion compared with the untreated group. It caused no improvement in blood gas tensions. The use of this diuretic for the routine management of RDS cannot be recommended.