Low-dose steroids: Helping babies come off ventilators and preserving the heart at the same time

In the United Kingdom 60,000 babies are born prematurely each year. Many of them will be treated with steroids, such as dexamethasone sodium phosphate, to aid with lung development. A new study published in the Journal of Physiology shows that treating these babies with a lower dose of dexamethasone, not only leads to less time on ventilators, but for the first time, notes its beneficial effects on blood circulation to the lungs, influencing better cardiorespiratory outcomes.