Clinical experience in using a new type of nasal prong for administration of N-CPAP

Abstract

Nasal continuous positive airway pressure (N-CPAP) has been used in infants with decreased lung compliance for increasing the functional residual capacity (FRC), decreasing the work of breathing and improving the PaO2/PAO2 (arterial-alveolar PO2 ratio) without intubation. However, the currently available nasal prongs for administration of N-CPAP have presented some problems in fixation, and lesions to the nasal septum or nostrils might be induced by aggressive pressure intended to fix them. We would therefore like to report our experience in using a new type of nasal prong for administration of N-CPAP therapy. The nasal prongs we used were provided by Dr. Wung of Columbia University in New York, who first designed them, and have been used safely, effectively and without any complications.