Evaluation of high flow nasal cannula versus continuous positive airway pressure as a respiratory support for preterm infants in zagazig university hospitals

Abstract

BackgroundNasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) and early surfactant are known to reduce the lung inflammation and injury associated with mechanical ventilation (MV) and decreases the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Avoidance of intubation and the increased use of NCPAP has become the primary mode of therapy for respiratory problems in preterm neonates. HFNC has become increasingly popular as a support modality where NCPAP might traditionally have been used. patients and methods We conducted a clinical trial on 42 preterm infants with respiratory distress, who were randomly divided into two equal groups as follows: Group 1 included 21 preterm infants receiving high-flow nasal cannula as a respiratory support. Group 2 included 21 preterm infants who received administration of nasal continuous positive airway pressure. All the neonates included in the study were subjected to history taking, clinical examination, laboratory investigationsResults Our study showed statistically a significant difference between HFNC and nasal CPAP groups regarding age at starting respiratory support and non-significant differences regarding intrauterine growth restriction, steroids, FiO2, surfactant and age at receiving surfactant. There were no significant differences in outcome. Also, there were no significant differences bewteen HFNC and NCPAP groups regarding time to reach full feeding and duration of hospitalization. But, there was statistically a significant difference between HFNC and nasal CPAP regarding severe nasal trauma. ConclusionHFNC appears to have similar efficacy to NCPAP when applied as a primary mode of respiratory support to preterm infants between 30 and 34 weeks of gestation with respiratory distress