About

Soraya Abbasi, MD, is an Emeritus Professor and the Chief of Pediatrics (Neonatology & Newborn Services) at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and Pennsylvania Hospital. She completed her pre-med studies at Pahlavi University in Shiraz, Iran, in 1967, and earned her MD from Pahlavi University Medical School in 1975. Her research expertise focuses on neonatal lung function and outcomes, contributing to the understanding of respiratory mechanics and interventions in premature infants. Her work includes studying pressure delivery during high-frequency oscillation of bubble CPAP, carbon dioxide clearance in neonatal lung models, and the effects of various respiratory support techniques on premature infants. Dr. Abbasi has authored numerous publications in pediatric pulmonology, emphasizing improving respiratory support and outcomes for neonates.

Research topics

• Medicine
• Pediatrics
• Anesthesia
• Internal medicine
• Obstetrics

Selected publications

• Serum ferritin values in neonates <29 weeks’ gestation are highly variable and do not correlate with reticulocyte hemoglobin content

  Journal of Perinatology · 2023-08-18 · 7 citations

  articleOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Comparison of nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation and bubble CPAP with an in‐line high‐frequency interrupter in a premature infant lung model

  Pediatric Pulmonology · 2022-06-20

  article

  Abstract Introduction Noninvasive ventilation has become a staple in the care of premature infants. However, failure rates continue to be high in this population. Modifications to noninvasive support, such as nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV), are used clinically to reduce such failure. Previous in vitro studies have shown improved CO 2 clearance when superimposing high‐frequency oscillations onto bubble continuous positive airway pressure (BCPAP). Objective To compare the CO 2 clearance of NIPPV to BCPAP with an in‐line high‐frequency interrupter (HFI) in a premature infant lung model. Methods A premature infant lung model was connected to either a Dräger VN500 for delivery of NIPPV or a BCPAP device with superimposed high‐frequency oscillations generated by an in‐line HFI. Change in end‐tidal CO 2 (ETCO 2 ) and mean airway pressure at the simulated trachea were measured and compared for both noninvasive modalities. Results Superimposing HF oscillations onto BCPAP with an in‐line HFI resulted in improved CO 2 clearance relative to BCPAP alone for all tested oscillation frequencies at all CPAP levels ( p < 0.001). NIPPV also resulted in improved CO 2 clearance relative to nasal CPAP (NCPAP) alone ( p < 0.001). Among the tested settings, BCPAP with an in‐line HFI resulted in decreased ETCO 2 relative to BCPAP ranging from –14% to –36%, while NIPPV resulted in decreased ETCO 2 relative to NCPAP ranging from –2% to –12%. Conclusion Superimposing high‐frequency oscillations onto BCPAP using a novel in‐line HFI was found to be more effective at clearing CO 2 than NIPPV in a premature infant lung model.

  PublisherDOI

• Association of Antenatal Steroid Exposure at 21 to 22 Weeks of Gestation With Neonatal Survival and Survival Without Morbidities

  JAMA Network Open · 2022-09-26 · 38 citations

  articleOpen access

  Importance: The provision of antenatal corticosteroids to pregnant patients at gestational age (GA) 22 6/7 weeks or less remains controversial and lacks support from randomized clinical trials. Objective: To compare rates of survival and survival without major morbidities among infants born at GA 22 0/7 to 23 6/7 weeks after exposure to antenatal steroids at 22 6/7 weeks' gestation or less vs no exposure to antenatal steroids. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cohort study enrolled infants born at GA 22 0/7 to 23 6/7 weeks between January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2019, at centers in the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Neonatal Research Network. Infants who did not receive intensive care and infants with antenatal steroid exposure after GA 22 6/7 weeks were excluded. Exposure: Infants were classified as having no, partial, or complete exposure to antenatal steroids. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was survival to discharge. The main secondary outcome was survival without major neonatal morbidity. The associations of differential exposures to antenatal steroids with outcomes were evaluated using logistic regression, adjusting for GA, sex, race, maternal education, small for GA status, mode of delivery, multiple birth, prolonged rupture of membranes, year of birth, and Neonatal Research Network center. Results: A total of 431 infants (mean [SD] GA, 22.6 [0.5] weeks; 232 [53.8%] boys) were included, with 110 infants (25.5%) receiving no antenatal steroids, 80 infants (18.6%) receiving partial antenatal steroids, and 241 infants (55.9%) receiving complete antenatal steroids. Seventeen infants were exposed to antenatal steroids at GA 21 weeks. Among infants exposed to complete antenatal steroids, 130 (53.9%) survived to discharge, compared with 30 infants (37.5%) with partial antenatal steroid exposure and 239 infants (35.5%) with no antenatal steroids. Infants born after complete antenatal steroid exposure, compared with those without antenatal steroid exposure, were more likely to survive to discharge (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.95 [95% CI, 1.07-3.56]) and to survive without major morbidity (aOR, 2.74 [95% CI, 1.19-6.30]). Conclusions and Relevance: In this retrospective cohort study, among infants born between GA 22 0/7 and 23 6/7 weeks who received intensive care, exposure to a complete course of antenatal steroids at GA 22 6/7 weeks or less was independently associated with greater odds of survival and survival without major morbidity. These data suggest that the use of antenatal steroids in patients at GA 22 6/7 weeks or less could be beneficial when active treatment is considered.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Use of ventilation/perfusion mismatch to guide individualised CPAP level selection in preterm infants: a feasibility trial

  Archives of Disease in Childhood Fetal & Neonatal · 2022-09-14 · 5 citations

  articleOpen access

  Objective To measure within-subject changes in ventilation/perfusion (V′/Q′) mismatch in response to a protocol of individualised nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) level selection. Design Single-arm, non-randomised, feasibility trial. Setting Three centres in the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia neonatal care network. Patients Twelve preterm infants of postmenstrual age 27–35 weeks, postnatal age >24 hours, and receiving a fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO 2 ) >0.25 on CPAP of 4–7 cm H 2 O. Interventions We applied a protocol of stepwise CPAP level changes, with the overall direction and magnitude guided by individual responses in V′/Q′ mismatch, as determined by the degree of right shift (kilopascals, kPa) in a non-invasive gas exchange model. Best CPAP level was defined as the final pressure level at which V′/Q′ improved by more than 5%. Main outcome measures Within-subject change in V′/Q′ mismatch between baseline and best CPAP levels. Results There was a median (IQR) within-subject reduction in V′/Q′ mismatch of 1.2 (0–3.2) kPa between baseline and best CPAP levels, p=0.02. Best CPAP was observed at a median (range) absolute level of 7 (5–8) cm H 2 O. Conclusions Non-invasive measures of V′/Q′ mismatch may be a useful approach for identifying individualised CPAP levels in preterm infants. The results of our feasibility study should be interpreted cautiously and replication in larger studies evaluating the impact of this approach on clinical outcomes is needed. Trial registration number NCT02983825 .

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Preserved pressure delivery during high‐frequency oscillation of bubble CPAP in a premature infant lung model with both normal and abnormal lung mechanics

  Pediatric Pulmonology · 2021-01-26 · 3 citations

  article

  Abstract Background Bubble continuous positive airway pressure (BCPAP) generates pressure oscillations which are suggested to improve gas exchange through mechanisms similar to high frequency (HF) ventilation. In a previous in‐vitro lung model with normal lung mechanics, significantly improved CO 2 washout was demonstrated using an HF interrupter in the supply flow of a BCPAP system. The effect of HF with BCPAP on delivered airway pressure (Paw) has not been fully investigated in a lung model having abnormal pulmonary mechanics. Objective To measure Paw in an infant lung model simulating normal and abnormal pulmonary compliance and resistance while connected to a BCPAP system with superimposed HF oscillations created using an in‐line flow interrupter. Design/Methods A premature infant lung model with either: normal lung mechanics, compliance 1.0 ml/cm H 2 O, airway resistance 56 cm H 2 O/(L/s); or abnormal mechanics, compliance 0.5 ml/cm H 2 O, airway resistance 136 cm H 2 O/(L/s), was connected to BCPAP with HF at either 4, 6, 8, 10, or 12 Hz. Paw was measured at BCPAPs of 4, 6, and 8 cm H 2 O and respiratory rates (RR) of 40, 60, and 80 breaths/min and 6.0 ml tidal volume. Results Mean Paw averaged over all five frequencies showed no significant change from non‐oscillated levels at all BCPAPs and RRs for both lung models. Paw amplitudes (peak‐to‐trough) during oscillation were significantly greater than the non‐oscillated levels by an average of 1.7 ± 0.5 SD and 2.6 ± 0.5 SD cm H 2 O ( p < .001) for the normal and abnormal models, respectively. Conclusions HF oscillation of BCPAP using a flow interrupter did not alter mean delivered Paw compared to non‐oscillated BCPAP for both normal and abnormal lung mechanics models. This simple modification to BCPAP may be a useful enhancement to this mode of non‐invasive respiratory support.

  PublisherDOI

• Derivation of a metabolic signature associated with bacterial meningitis in infants

  Pediatric Research · 2020-03-02 · 16 citations

  articleOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Carbon dioxide clearance using bubble CPAP with superimposed high‐frequency oscillations in a premature infant lung model with abnormal lung mechanics

  Pediatric Pulmonology · 2020-08-26 · 8 citations

  articleSenior author

  Abstract Background High‐frequency (HF) oscillatory ventilation has been shown to improve carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) clearance in premature infants. In a previous in vitro lung model with normal lung mechanics we demonstrated significantly improved CO 2 washout by HF oscillation of bubble continuous positive airway pressure (BCPAP). Objective To examine CO 2 clearance in a premature infant lung model with abnormal lung mechanics via measurement of end‐tidal CO 2 levels (EtCO 2 ) while connected to HF oscillated BCPAP. Design and Methods A 40 mL premature infant lung model with either: normal lung mechanics (NLM): compliance 1.0 mL/cm H 2 O, airway resistance 56 cm H 2 O/(L/s); or abnormal lung mechanics (ALM): compliance 0.5 mL/cm H 2 O, airway resistance 136 cm H 2 O/(L/s), was connected to BCPAP with HF oscillation at either 4, 6, 8, 10, or 12 Hz. EtCO 2 was measured at BCPAPs of 4, 6, and 8 cm H 2 O and respiratory rates (RR) of 40, 60, and 80 breaths/min and 6 mL tidal volume. Results HF oscillation decreased EtCO 2 levels at all BCPAPs, RRs, and oscillation frequencies for both lung models. Overall mean ± SD EtCO 2 levels decreased ( P < .001) from nonoscillated baseline by 19.3 ± 10.2% for NLM vs 14.1 ± 8.8% for ALM. CO 2 clearance improved for both lung models ( P < .001) as a function of oscillation frequency and RR with greatest effectiveness at 40 to 60 breaths/min and HF at 8 to 12 Hz. Conclusions In this in vitro premature infant lung model, HF oscillation of BCPAP was associated with improved CO 2 clearance as compared with nonoscillated BCPAP for both NLM and ALM. The significant improvement in CO 2 clearance in an abnormal lung environment is an important step towards clinical testing of this novel respiratory support modality.

  PublisherDOI

• Effect of Blood Transfusions on Intermittent Hypoxic Episodes in a Prospective Study of Very Low Birth Weight Infants

  The Journal of Pediatrics · 2020-05-15 · 17 citations

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Carbon dioxide clearance using bubble CPAP with superimposed high frequency oscillations in a premature infant lung model with abnormal lung mechanics

  2020-07-13 · 1 citations

  preprintOpen accessSenior author

  Background: High frequency (HF) oscillatory ventilation has been shown to improve CO2 clearance in premature infants. In a previous in vitro lung model with normal lung mechanics we demonstrated significantly improved CO2 washout by HF oscillation of bubble CPAP (BCPAP). Objective: To examine CO2 clearance in a premature infant lung model with abnormal lung mechanics via measurement of end-tidal CO2 levels (EtCO2) while connected to HF oscillated BCPAP. Design/Methods: A 40mL premature infant lung model with either: normal lung mechanics (NLM): compliance 1.0 mL/cmH2O, airway resistance 56 cmH2O/(L/s); or abnormal lung mechanics (ALM): compliance 0.5 mL/cmH2O, airway resistance 136 cmH2O/(L/s), was connected to BCPAP with HF oscillation at either 4,6,8,10 or 12 Hz. EtCO2 was measured at BCPAPs of 4,6 and 8 cmH2O and respiratory rates (RR) of 40,60 and 80 breaths/min and 6mL tidal volume. Results: HF oscillation decreased EtCO2 levels at all BCPAPs, RRs, and oscillation frequencies for both lung models. Overall mean±SD EtCO2 levels decreased (p<0.001) from non-oscillated baseline by 19.3±10.2% for NLM vs. 14.1±8.8% for ALM. CO2 clearance improved for both lung models (p<0.001) as a function of oscillation frequency and RR with greatest effectiveness at 40-60 breaths/min and HF at 8-12 Hz. Conclusions: In this in-vitro premature infant lung model, HF oscillation of BCPAP was associated with improved CO2 clearance as compared to non-oscillated BCPAP for both NLM and ALM. The significant improvement in CO2 clearance in an abnormal lung environment is an important step towards clinical testing of this novel respiratory support modality.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Effect of high‐frequency oscillation on pressure delivered by high flow nasal cannula in a premature infant lung model

  Pediatric Pulmonology · 2019-07-24 · 9 citations

  article

  Abstract Objective This study describes the effect of high‐frequency oscillation on airway pressure generated by high flow nasal cannula (HFNC) in a premature infant lung model. Design/Methods A premature in 0.5 or 1.0 mL/cmH 2 O, respiratory rate (RR) of 40 or 60 breaths per min, and tidal volume of 6 mL. Oscillation was achieved by passing the HFNC supply flow through a 3‐way solenoid valve operating at 4, 6, 8, or 10 Hz. Airway pressure at the simulated trachea was recorded following equilibration of end‐tidal CO 2 both with and without oscillation. Results Superimposing high‐frequency oscillations onto HFNC resulted in an average decrease in mean airway pressure of 17.9% ( P = .011). The difference between the maximum and minimum airway pressures, ∆ P min‐max, significantly increased as oscillation frequency decreased ( P < .001). Airway pressure during oscillation was 12.8% greater with the 1.0 vs the 0.5 mL/cmH 2 O compliance at flows > 4 L/min ( P = .031). CO 2 clearance was 13.1% greater with the 1.0 vs 0.5 mL/cmH 2 O compliance at oscillation frequencies less than 8 Hz ( P = .015). Conclusion In this in‐vitro study we demonstrate that delivered mean airway pressure decreases when applying high‐frequency oscillation to HFNC, while still improving CO 2 clearance. The combination of improved CO 2 clearance and reduced pressure delivery of this novel noninvasive modality may prove to be a useful improvement in the respiratory care of infants in respiratory distress.

  PublisherDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Vinod K. Bhutani

  Stanford University

  119 shared

• Brenda B. Poindexter

  118 shared

• Eric C. Eichenwald

  Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

  113 shared

• Kurt Schibler

  University of Cincinnati Medical Center

  99 shared

• Rosemary L. Jensen

  Research Network (United States)

  97 shared

• Cathy Grisby

  Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

  96 shared

• Emidio M. Sivieri

  University of Naples Federico II

  94 shared

• Barbara Schmidt

  Jena University Hospital

  93 shared

Education

• M.D.

  Pahlavi University Medical School

  1975

• Other

  Pahlavi University

  1967