Comparison of Early Nasal Intermittent Positive Pressure Ventilation and Nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure in Preterm Infants with Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Abstract

Aims: To compare the effect of early nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation (nIPPV) and nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) in terms of the need for endotracheal ventilation in the treatment of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in preterm infants born between 24 and 32 gestational weeks.

Methods: This is a randomized, controlled, prospective, single-centered study. Forty-two infants were randomized to nIPPV and 42 comparable infants to nCPAP (birth weight 1356 ± 295 and 1359 ± 246 g and gestational age 29.2 ± 1.7 and 29.4 ± 1.5 weeks, respectively).

Results: The need for endotracheal intubation and invasive mechanical ventilation was significantly lower in the nIPPV group than the nCPAP group (11.9% and 40.5%, respectively, p < 0.05). There were no differences in the duration of total nasal respiratory support, duration of invasive mechanical ventilation, bronchopulmonary dysplasia or other early morbidities.

Conclusion: nIPPV compared with nCPAP reduced the need for endotracheal intubation and invasive mechanical ventilation in premature infants with RDS.

Keywords: nasal continuous positive airway pressure; nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation; preterm; respiratory distress syndrome.