Effect of nasal continuous positive airway pressure in prone position on the premature infants with apnea

Abstract

Objective The aim of this study is to assess the effect of nasal continuous positive airway pressure （ NCPAP） in prone position on the treatment of the premature infants with apnea .Methods Totals of 80 premature infants treated with NCPAP in the NICU from January to December , 20±2 were observed . According to the random number table method , the premature infants were divided into prone position group and supine position group . Each group was treated with NCPAP and aminophylline , and relevant nursing intervention.The changes of their frequencies of apnea , PEEP, FiO2 , PaO2 , and PaCO2 , etc.were observed and compared.Results The effective rate of the prone group was 9±.5% and the effective rate of the supine group was 82.5%.The difference was significant （χ2 =8.4±, P±lt±0.05）.The PaO2 and PaO2/FiO2 in the prone group were （77.24±9.56）,（171.25±31.13）mmHg, respectively, which were higher than （67.52±8.61）,（143.26±26.34）mmHg in the supine group.The differences were significant （t =2.16, 2.14, respectively;P〈0.05）.The time of ventilation, hospital stays and use of aminophylline were （3.65±2.01）,（28.25±3.98）,（10.82±9.08）d, which were lower than （4.83±3.51）,（30.14±12.61）,（12.2±9.37）d in the supine group, the differences were significant （t=0.23, 1.96, 2.37, respectively;P〈0.05）. Conclusions Compared with the traditional supine position , treating the neonate with NCPAP in prone position can not only improve their oxygenation , PaO2 and oxygenation indexes , but also reduce the risk of apnea , as well as shortening the time of ventilation and using of aminophylline .It also reduces the treatment of intubation and ventilation, and relieves the financial burden of hospitalization on the infant ’ parents. Key words: Prone position; Nasal continuous positive airway pressure; Apnea; Premature infants