Study design
Infants born at 24-30 weeks of gestation treated with oxygen via either CPAP or nasal cannula (NC) for evolving CLD and history of at least one of the following: failed respiratory support weaning, chest X-ray characteristic of pulmonary edema, and/or increased work of breathing (tachypnea, intercostal retractions) were recruited. Infants with major congenital anomalies, lung anomalies, pulmonary hypertension, or cardiac anomalies (including ASD, VSD, and PDA) were excluded from the study. Infants in the diuretic group were started on diuretic therapy at the discretion of their physicians and compared with the control group of infants not receiving diuretics. Oral diuretic regimens included: furosemide only, furosemide followed by hydrochlorothiazide in those that responded to initial furosemide trial, hydrochlorothiazide and spironolactone, and hydrochlorothiazide only. In the diuretic group, LUS exams were performed within 1 day prior to the start of diuretic treatment (day 0), and on days 1, 3 and 6 after the first dose of diuretic. In the control group, LUS exams were performed at the same time points.