Objective To investigate the efficacy and safety of nebulized inhalation of budesonide combined with intravenous injection of dexamethasone in the treatment of preterm infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD).

Methods A total of 130 preterm infants with BPD were randomly divided into control group (n=65) and experimental group (n=65). The control group received dexamethasone acetate injection on the basis of conventional treatment, while the experimental group was treated with nebulized inhalation of budesonide suspension on the basis of the control group, and both groups were treated continuously for 10 days. The oxygen inhalation time, mechanical ventilation time, hospitalization time, clinical efficacy, and adverse reactions were compared between the two groups, and the BPD grading was also compared between the two groups at 36 weeks of corrected gestational age or at discharge.

Results After treatment, the oxygen inhalation time, mechanical ventilation time, and hospitalization time in theexperimental group were shorter than those in the control group; the BPD grading in the experimental group was better than that in the control group; the clinical total effective rate in the experimental group was 89.23%, which was higher than 69.23% in the control group; all the between-group differences mentioned above were statistically significant (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups (P>0.05).

Conclusion Nebulized inhalation of budesonide combined with intravenous injection of dexamethasone is safe and effective in treating preterm infants with BPD, which can significantly shorten oxygen inhalation time, mechanical ventilation time and hospitalization time, and improve disease grading.