CPAP System Research Articles

Implementation of a novel bubble continuous positive airway pressure system with a blender in preterm infants in a low resource setting.

To determine if a novel CPAP system is associated with physiologic improvement in premature infants in a low resource setting and if the introduction of blended oxygen would reduce FiO2. Feasibility study of infants ≤2000 g or ≤32 weeks gestational age with early respiratory distress who were placed on Vayu CPAP with continuous pulse oximetry. Physiologic parameters were recorded prior to initiation and through the first 24 h. Seventy-six infants of birthweight 1360 ± 324 g and gestational age 31.2 ± 2.5 weeks were included. Compared to baseline, heart rate, respiratory rate, FiO2, and Silverman Anderson score significantly decreased while oxygen saturations significantly increased at one hour with persistence through 24 h. Utilization of Vayu CPAP in premature infants with respiratory distress was associated with immediate improvement in physiologic parameters. Use of blended oxygen coupled with pulse oximetry facilitates reduction in delivered oxygen.

ELMO CPAP: an innovative type of ventilatory support for COVID-19-related acute respiratory distress syndrome.

To assess whether the use of ELMO, a helmet for noninvasive ventilation created in Brazil, had a positive impact on the prognosis of patients with hypoxemic respiratory failure caused by severe COVID-19. This is a retrospective study of 50 critically ill COVID-19 patients. Epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory data were collected on ICU admission, as well as before, during, and after ELMO use. Patients were divided into two groups (success and failure) according to the outcome. ELMO use improved oxygenation parameters such as Pao2, Fio2, and the Pao2/Fio2 ratio, and this contributed to a gradual reduction in Fio2, without an increase in CO2, as determined by arterial blood gas analysis. Patients in the success group had significantly longer survival (p < 0.001), as determined by the Kaplan-Meier analysis, less need for intubation (p < 0.001), fewer days of hospitalization, and a lower incidence of acute kidney injury in comparison with those in the failure group. The significant improvement in oxygenation parameters, the longer survival, as reflected by the reduced need for intubation and by the mortality rate, and the absence of acute kidney injury suggest that the ELMO CPAP system is a promising tool for treating ARDS and similar clinical conditions.

Effectiveness of a novel bubble CPAP system for neonatal respiratory support at a referral hospital in the Philippines.

To examine the impact of introducing and implementing the Vayu bubble continuous positive airway pressure (bCPAP) system on neonatal survival and neonatal respiratory outcomes in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in the Philippines. We compared clinical outcomes of 1,024 neonates before to 979 neonates after introduction of Vayu bCPAP systems into a NICU. The primary outcome was survival to discharge. Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Analyses were undertaken separately for the entire NICU population and for neonates who received any form of respiratory support. The introduction of the Vayu bCPAP system was associated with (1) significant reductions in intubation (aOR: 0.75; 95% CI: 0.58-0.96) and in the use of nasal intermittent positive-pressure ventilation (NIPPV) (aOR: 0.69; 95% CI: 0.50-0.96) among the entire NICU population and (2) a significant increase in survival to discharge (aOR: 1.53; 95% CI: 1.09-2.17) and significant reductions in intubation (aOR: 0.52; 95% CI: 0.38-0.71), surfactant administration (aOR: 0.60; 95% CI: 0.40-0.89), NIPPV use (aOR: 0.52; 95% CI: 0.36-0.76), and a composite neonatal adverse outcome (aOR: 0.60; 95% CI: 0.42-0.84) among neonates who received any form of respiratory support. The use of the Vayu bCPAP system in a NICU in the Philippines resulted in significant improvement in neonatal respiratory outcomes.

Descriptive account of the first use of the LeVe CPAP System, a new frugal CPAP System, in adult patients with COVID-19 Pneumonitis in Uganda

BackgroundContinuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) has been a key treatment modality for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) worldwide. Globally, the demand for CPAP outstripped the supply during the pandemic. The LeVe CPAP System was developed to provide respiratory support for treatment of COVID-19 and tailored for use in low- and middle-income country (LMIC) settings. Prior to formal trial approval, received in November 2021, these devices were used in extremis to support critically unwell adult patients requiring non-invasive ventilatory support.MethodsThis is a retrospective descriptive review of adult patients with COVID-19 pneumonitis, who were treated with advanced respiratory support (CPAP and/or high-flow nasal oxygen, HFNO) at Mengo Hospital, Uganda. Patients were treated with the LeVe CPAP System, Elisa CPAP and/or AIRVO™ HFNO. Treatment was escalated per standard local protocols for respiratory failure, and CPAP was the maximum respiratory support available. Data were collected on patient characteristics, length of time of treatment, clinical outcome, and any adverse events.ResultsOverall 333 patients were identified as COVID-19 positive, 44 received CPAP ± HFNO of which 43 were included in the study. The median age was 58 years (range 28–91 years) and 58% were female. The median duration of advanced respiratory support was 7 days (range 1–18 days). Overall (all device) mortality was 49% and this was similar between those started on the LeVe CPAP System and those started non-LeVe CPAP System devices (50% vs 47%).ConclusionsThe LeVe CPAP system was the most used CPAP device during the pandemic, bringing the hospital’s number of available HFNO/CPAP devices from two to 14. They were a critical resource for providing respiratory support to the sickest group of patients when no alternative devices were available. The devices appear to be safe and well-tolerated with no serious adverse events recorded. This study is unable to assess the efficacy of the LeVe CPAP System; therefore, formal comparative studies are required to inform further use.

Do newborn infants exhale through the CPAP system? Secondary analysis of a randomised cross-over trial

BackgroundDuring nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) treatment in neonates, leakage is inevitable and can lead to reduced distending pressure in the lungs of the infant. In current practice, neither...

Function of neonatal CPAP systems and the importance of total flow.

We read with interest the article by Auer-Hackenberg et al but would like to comment on some issues we feel are misunderstandings or errors This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of a Bubble CPAP System for Low Resource Settings.

Despite its established safety, efficacy, and relative simplicity, CPAP treatment is not widely available for newborns and infants in low- and middle-income settings. A novel bubble CPAP system was designed to address the gaps in quality and accessibility of existing CPAP systems by providing blended, humidified, and pressurized gases without the need for electricity, compressed air, or manual power. This was the first study that tested the performance of the system with a simulated patient model. METHODS: In a spontaneously breathing 3-dimensional printed nasal airway model of a preterm neonate, CPAP performance was assessed based on delivered pressure, oxygen level, and humidity at different settings. RESULTS: Preliminary device performance characteristics were within 5% among 3 separate devices. Performance testing showed accurate control of CPAP and oxygen concentration at all settings with the bubble CPAP system. Lung model pressure and oxygen concentration were shown to stay within ±0.5 cm H2O and ±4% of full scale of the device settings, respectively, with relative humidity > 80%. CONCLUSIONS: Performance testing of the bubble CPAP system demonstrated accurate control of CPAP and oxygen concentration with humidity levels suitable for premature newborns on noninvasive support.

Supplemental oxygen therapy in COVID-19

South Africa face a significant shortage of ventilator-supported intensive care (ICU) beds during the peak phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, further exacerbated by severe ICU-staff shortages. It is also recognised that the mortality rate for ventilated patients might be as high as 88%. In the absence of a vaccine and proven effective pharmacotherapy, it is important to understand the pathophysiological processes causing progression. Early type-L COVID-19, associated with pulmonary thrombo-embolism, may be amenable to treatment with careful anti-coagulation and supplementary oxygenation strategies. This could attenuate the severe hyperventilation phase causing patient self-inflicted lung injury (P-SILI) that contributes to the development of type-H COVID-19 pneumonia. Type-H is an ARDS variant requiring intubation and ventilation and is associated with a very high mortality rate. Stepwise non-invasive positive pressure ventilation strategies (NIPPV) providing supplementary oxygen have shown benefit and, in the South African context, may be the only realistic strategy to deal with high numbers of patients during the early type-L phase of the disease. To address this, a mobile wall unit has been created that allows for stepwise supplementary oxygen therapy according to protocol – including NIPPV as well as standard ventilation. The unit can support modified wards, field hospitals or high care areas in existing facilities. It allows for NIPPV support within a hood system linked to scavenger lines addressing aerolisation. Standard humidification, flow regulators, vacuum systems, HFNC and CPAP systems, as well as monitoring equipment that are readily available in South Africa, can be linked to the system addressing availability issues.

The efficacy of the WhisperFlow CPAP system versus high flow nasal cannula in patients at risk for postextubation failure: A Randomized controlled trial.

Compare the efficacy(reintubation rate) between a high-flow nasal cannula(HFNC) and the WhisperFlow CPAP system in patients at risk for postextubation failure. RCT was conducted in patients who had at least one high-risk criterion for postextubation failure. All patients were randomly assigned to CPAP or HFNC for 48h. Of 140 patients, sixty-nine were assigned to the CPAP group and 71 to the HFNC group. The reintubation rate was similar between the HFNC and WhisperFlowCPAP [5 cases(7.0%) vs. 6 cases(8.7%); P=0.76]. The postextubation respiratory failure rate was not significantly different between the HFNC and WhisperFlow CPAP groups [10 cases(14.1%)vs.7cases(10.1%); P=0.48]. The respiratory rate was lower in the HFNC than CPAP group(P=0.04). The pain rating scale score was lower in the HFNC group than in the WhisperFlow CPAP group at 24h (2.8±2.0 vs. 3.7±1.9, P=0.02) and 48h (2.8±1.8 vs. 3.8±1.9, P=0.002). We are unable to demonstrate a reduction in postextubation respiratory failure in at risk patients with the use of HFNC compared with the WhisperFlow CPAP system probably because small sample size, but HFNC was better tolerated.

Effect of humidified versus nonhumidified CPAP on inflammatory response and nasopharyngeal symptoms in healthy participants.

IntroductionContinuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) may induce nasal inflammation because of mucosal compression or dryness. This study examined the impact of humidified versus nonhumidified CPAP on nasal inflammation and upper airway symptoms.MethodsSeventeen healthy male subjects with no previous or current history of nasal symptoms were recruited. All subjects underwent 3 hours of nonhumidified CPAP at 12.5 cmH2O via nasal mask. Among the 17 studied subjects, seven returned to receive a humidified CPAP at 12.5 cmH2O via nasal mask. The nasal wash leukocyte count was assessed at baseline and after each CPAP setting. The white blood cell (WBC) count and levels of WBCs that are mononuclear cells (including lymphocytes and monocytes) were monitored. A six-point nasal score was also assessed before and after the CPAP intervention.ResultsThe nasal wash WBC count (103/µL) and mononuclear cell level (103/µL) at baseline, on 12.5 cmH2O humidified CPAP, and on 12.5 cmH2O nonhumidified CPAP were significantly different (p = 0.016; p = 0.003). Changes in nasopharyngeal symptoms occurred in 12 of 17 subjects (70.5%) in the nonhumidified group. Participants experienced at least one nasal symptom after application of nonhumidified CPAP at 12.5 cmH2O.ConclusionThe present investigation suggests that humidified CPAP was not associated with early nasal inflammation and there were fewer nasopharyngeal symptoms. Further study is required to confirm the results and evaluate the impact of adding heat to the humidified CPAP system.

Home PAP devices in patients infected with COVID-19.

Citation:Kryger MH, Thomas R. Home PAP devices in patients infected with COVID-19. J Clin Sleep Med. 2020;16(7):1217–1219.

A pilot study of improvised CPAP (iCPAP) via face mask for the treatment of adult respiratory distress in low-resource settings

BackgroundContinuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is a mode of non-invasive ventilation used to treat a variety of respiratory conditions in the emergency department and intensive care unit. In low-resource settings where ventilators are not available, the ability to improvise a CPAP system from locally available equipment would provide a previously unavailable means of respiratory support for patients in respiratory distress. This manuscript details the design of such a system and its performance in healthy volunteers.MethodsAn improvised CPAP system was assembled from standard emergency department equipment and tested in 10 healthy volunteers (6 male, 4 female; ages 29–33). The system utilizes a water seal and high-flow air to create airway pressure; it was set to provide a pressure of 5 cmH2O for the purposes of this pilot study. Subjects used the system in a monitored setting for 30 min. Airway pressure, heart rate, oxygen saturation, and end-tidal CO2 were monitored. Comfort with the device was assessed via questionnaire.ResultsThe system maintained positive airway pressure for the full trial period in all subjects, with a mean expiratory pressure (EP) of 5.1 cmH2O (SD 0.7) and mean inspiratory pressure (IP) of 3.2 cmH2O (SD 0.8). There was a small decrease in average EP (5.28 vs 4.88 cmH2O, p = 0.03) and a trend toward decreasing IP (3.26 vs 3.07 cmH2O, p = 0.22) during the trial. No significant change in heart rate, O2 saturation, respiratory rate, or end-tidal CO2 was observed. The system was well tolerated, ranked an average of 4.0 on a 1–5 scale for comfort (with 5 = very comfortable).ConclusionsThis improvised CPAP system maintained positive airway pressure for 30 min in healthy volunteers. Use did not cause tachycardia, hypoxia, or hypoventilation and was well tolerated. This system may be a useful adjunctive treatment for respiratory distress in low-resource settings. Further research should test this system in settings where other positive pressure modalities are not available.

Helmet Versus Nasal-Prong CPAP in Infants With Acute Bronchiolitis.

Nasal prongs are frequently used to deliver noninvasive CPAP in bronchiolitis, especially in the youngest children. A helmet interface is an alternative that might be comparable to nasal prongs. We sought to compare these interfaces. We performed a prospective, randomized, crossover, single-center study in an 8-bed multidisciplinary pediatric ICU in a university hospital. Infants age <3 months who were consecutively admitted to the pediatric ICU during a bronchiolitis epidemic season and fulfilled inclusion criteria were recruited. Subjects were randomly allocated to receive CPAP via a helmet or nasal prongs for 60 min. The subjects were then placed on the other CPAP system for another 60-min period (helmet then nasal prongs [H-NP] or nasal prongs then helmet [NP-H]). Measurements were taken at 30, 60, 90, and 120 min. Failure was defined as the need for further respiratory support. Sixteen subjects were included, with 9 in the H-NP group and 7 in the NP-H group. CPAP significantly reduced respiratory distress, showing no differences between the H-NP and NP-H groups in terms of improving the Modified Wood's Clinical Asthma Score from 4.8 ± 1 to 3 ± 0.9 and 2.7 ± 1.7 points at 60 min and 120 min in the H-NP group, respectively, and from 4.2 ± 0.9 to 2.8 ± 0.9 and to 2.9 ± 0.9 at 60 min and 120 min, respectively, in the NP-H group. Sedatives were used in only 3 subjects (2 in the NP-H group, P = .77). The failure rate was similar in both groups (3 of 9 subjects vs 3 of 7 subjects, P = .70). No significant differences were seen for heart rate, breathing frequency, FIO2 , or transcutaneous oxygen saturation response. Our results suggest that CPAP delivered by nasal prongs and CPAP delivered by helmet are similar in terms of efficacy in young infants with acute bronchiolitis.

A Pilot Study of Responses to Suctioning Among Neonates on Bubble Nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure.

Maintenance of a patent airway while the neonate is on nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nasal CPAP) requires vigilant monitoring and oral/nasopharyngeal suctioning. Currently, no evidence-based guidelines for safe suctioning in neonates while on bubble nasal CPAP have been published. (1) To characterize the clinical and behavioral responses of neonates on bubble nasal CPAP in a level III neonatal intensive care unit following routine oral and nasopharyngeal suctioning. This pilot study has a 1-sample within-subject repeated-measures design in which neonates (N = 16) served as their own control. Data on a neonate's physiological and behavior measures (heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation [SaO2], and Premature Infant Pain Profile [PIPP] score) were collected before, during, and after the completion of suctioning sequence. A total of 16 neonates with a mean gestational age of 29.76 weeks and an average day of life of 3.4 were enrolled. The infant's heart rates did not differ significantly (P = .51) across the suctioning sequence. There were no statistical significant changes in the average respiratory rate across the suctioning sequences (P = .79). SaO2 demonstrated a drop between baseline and after each suctioning (P < .001). The PIPP score demonstrated a precipitous increase throughout the procedure (P < .001). On average, it took 9.5 seconds (SD = 4.9) to complete the suctioning sequences. Our results suggest that the guideline tested is safe and tolerated by infants. This guideline should be tested in a larger sample and with neonates on other nasal CPAP systems.

Evaluation of a Mapleson D CPAP system for weaning of mechanical ventilation in pediatric patients.

Background:Over the last years, we have used a flow-inflating bag circuit with a nasotracheal or nasopharyngeal tube as an interface to deliver effective CPAP support in infants (“Mapleson D CPAP system”). The primary goal of this study was to assess the usefulness of the “Mapleson D CPAP system” for weaning of mechanical ventilation (MV) in infants who received MV over 24 h.Materials and Methods:All infants who received MV for more than 24 h in the last year were enrolled in the study. Demographic data included age, gender, weight, and admission diagnosis. Heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation were measured during MV, 2 h after the nasotracheal Mapleson D CPAP system and 2 h after extubation. Patients were classified into two groups: patients MV more than 48 h, and patients with MV fewer than 48 h. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results:A total of 50 children were enrolled in the study, with a median age was 34 ± 45 months (range, 1–59 months) and median weight was 11.98 ± 9.31 kg (range, 1–48 kg). Median duration of MV was 480 h (range, 2–570). There were no significant differences in PaO2, PaCO2, and pH among MV, 2 h after the nasotracheal Mapleson D CPAP system and 2 h after extubation and spontaneous ventilation with the nasopharyngeal Mapleson D CPAP system or with nasal prongs. The overall extubation failure rate was 26% (n = 13). Weight and age were significantly associated with extubation failure (P < 0.05).Conclusions:The Mapleson D CPAP system, in our opinion, is a useful and safe alternative to more complex and expensive noninvasive CPAP and BiPAP weaning from MV in infants.

Evaluating the Effect of Flow and Interface Type on Pressures Delivered With Bubble CPAP in a Simulated Model

Bubble CPAP, used for spontaneously breathing infants to avoid intubation or postextubation support, can be delivered with different interface types. This study compared the effect that interfaces had on CPAP delivery. We hypothesized that there would be no difference between set and measured levels between interface types. A validated preterm infant nasal airway model was attached to the ASL 5000 breathing simulator. The simulator was programmed to deliver active breathing of a surfactant-deficient premature infant with breathing frequency at 70 breaths/min inspiratory time of 0.30 s, resistance of 150 cm H2O/L/s, compliance of 0.5 mL/cm H2O, tidal volume of 5 mL, and esophageal pressure of -10 cm H2O. Nasal CPAP prongs, size 4030, newborn and infant RAM cannulas were connected to a nasal airway model and a bubble CPAP system. CPAP levels were set at 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 cm H2O with flows of 6, 8, and 10 L/min each. Measurements were recorded after 1 min of stabilization. The analysis was performed using SAS 9.4. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test assessed normality of the data. The Friedman test was used to compare non-normally distributed repeated measures. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to conduct post hoc analysis. All tests were 2-sided, and P values of <.05 were considered as indicating significant differences unless otherwise indicated. At lower set CPAP levels, 4-6 cm H2O, measured CPAP dropped precipitously with the nasal prongs with the highest flow setting. At higher CPAP levels, 7-9 cm H2O measured CPAP concomitantly increased as the flow setting increased. Statistically significant differences in set and measured CPAP occurred for all devices across all CPAP levels, with the measured CPAP less than set for all conditions, P < .001. Set flow had a profound effect on measured CPAP. The concomitant drop in measured pressure with high and low flows could be attributed to increased resistance to spontaneous breathing or insufficient flow to meet inspiratory demand. Clinicians should be aware of the effect that the interface and flow have on CPAP delivery.

Imposed Work of Breathing for Flow Meters with In-Line versus Flow-Through Technique during Simulated Neonatal Breathing.

BackgroundThe ability to determine airflow during nasal CPAP (NCPAP) treatment without adding dead space or resistance would be useful when investigating the physiologic effects of different NCPAP systems on breathing. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect on pressure stability of different flow measuring devices at the in-line and flow-through position, using simulated neonatal breathing.MethodsSix different flow measure devices were evaluated by recording pressure changes and imposed work of breathing for breaths with 16 and 32 ml tidal volumes. The tests were performed initially with the devices in an in line position and with 5 and 10 L/min using flow through technique, without CPAP. The flow meters were then subsequently tested with an Infant Flow CPAP system at 3, 5 and 8 cm H2O pressure using flow through technique. The quality of the recorded signals was compared graphically.ResultsThe resistance of the measuring devices generated pressure swings and imposed work of breathing. With bias flow, the resistance also generated CPAP pressure. Three of the devices had low resistance and generated no changes in pressure stability or CPAP pressure. The two devices intended for neonatal use had the highest measured resistance.ConclusionThe importance of pressure stability and increased work of breathing during non-invasive respiratory support are insufficiently studied. Clinical trials using flow-through technique have not focused on pressure stability. Our results indicate that a flow-through technique might be a way forward in obtaining a sufficiently high signal quality without the added effects of rebreathing and increased work of breathing. The results should stimulate further research and the development of equipment for dynamic flow measurements in neonates.

Volume Oscillations Delivered to a Lung Model Using 4 Different Bubble CPAP Systems.

High-frequency pressure oscillations created by gas bubbling through an underwater seal during bubble CPAP may enhance ventilation and aid in lung recruitment in premature infants. We hypothesized that there are no differences in the magnitude of oscillations in lung volume (ΔV) in a preterm neonatal lung model when different bubble CPAP systems are used. An anatomically realistic replica of an infant nasal airway model was attached to a Silastic test lung sealed within a calibrated plethysmograph. Nasal prongs were affixed to the simulated neonate and supported using bubble CPAP systems set at 6 cm H2O. ΔV was calculated using pressure measurements obtained from the plethysmograph. The Fisher & Paykel Healthcare bubble CPAP system provided greater ΔV than any of the other devices at all of the respective bias flows (P < .05). The Fisher & Paykel Healthcare and Babi.Plus systems generally provided ΔV at lower frequencies than the other bubble CPAP systems. The magnitude of ΔV increased at bias flows of > 4 L/min in the Fisher & Paykel Healthcare, Airways Development, and homemade systems, but appeared to decrease as bias flow increased with the Babi.Plus system. The major finding of this study is that bubble CPAP can provide measureable ventilation effects in an infant lung model. We speculate that the differences noted in ΔV between the different devices are a combination of the circuit/nasal prong configuration, bubbler configuration, and frequency of oscillations. Additional testing is needed in spontaneously breathing infants to determine whether a physiologic benefit exists when using the different bubble CPAP systems.

Efficacy of a Low-Cost Bubble CPAP System in Treatment of Respiratory Distress in a Neonatal Ward in Malawi

BackgroundRespiratory failure is a leading cause of neonatal mortality in the developing world. Bubble continuous positive airway pressure (bCPAP) is a safe, effective intervention for infants with respiratory distress and is widely used in developed countries. Because of its high cost, bCPAP is not widely utilized in low-resource settings. We evaluated the performance of a new bCPAP system to treat severe respiratory distress in a low resource setting, comparing it to nasal oxygen therapy, the current standard of care.MethodsWe conducted a non-randomized convenience sample study to test the efficacy of a low-cost bCPAP system treating newborns with severe respiratory distress in the neonatal ward of Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, in Blantyre, Malawi. Neonates weighing >1,000 g and presenting with severe respiratory distress who fulfilled inclusion criteria received nasal bCPAP if a device was available; if not, they received standard care. Clinical assessments were made during treatment and outcomes compared for the two groups.Findings87 neonates (62 bCPAP, 25 controls) were recruited. Survival rate for neonates receiving bCPAP was 71.0% (44/62) compared with 44.0% (11/25) for controls. 65.5% (19/29) of very low birth weight neonates receiving bCPAP survived to discharge compared to 15.4% (1/13) of controls. 64.6% (31/48) of neonates with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) receiving bCPAP survived to discharge, compared to 23.5% (4/17) of controls. 61.5% (16/26) of neonates with sepsis receiving bCPAP survived to discharge, while none of the seven neonates with sepsis in the control group survived.InterpretationUse of a low-cost bCPAP system to treat neonatal respiratory distress resulted in 27% absolute improvement in survival. The beneficial effect was greater for neonates with very low birth weight, RDS, or sepsis. Implementing appropriate bCPAP devices could reduce neonatal mortality in developing countries.

Successful Nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure for Newborn Respiratory Distress in a Regional Centre

We wish to present our experience using nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) in a regional town over a 5-year period. Kalgoorlie is located 595 km east of Perth in Western Australia, with a population of 31 107. With over 800 deliveries each year, around 100 infants require nursery care annually. The level 2 nursery caters for babies born 34 weeks and over with the intent to transfer those <34 weeks gestation in utero to the tertiary centre. Prior to 2008, most neonates presenting with respiratory distress were transferred to Perth. In 2008, the team of three paediatricians started offering nCPAP therapy for infant respiratory distress. The Western Australian Neonatal Network facilitated up-skilling of nurses with CPAP training as well as a 1–2 week rotation at the tertiary hospital. A process of ongoing training for nurses and junior doctors supervised by a paediatrician and neonatal nurse was commenced at Kalgoorlie. Bubble CPAP was commenced using Hudson prongs and Fisher and Paykel Healthcare Bubble CPAP System. We adhered to the King Edward Memorial Hospital Neonatal guidelines for CPAP.1 A paediatrician was available on site during working hours and as Kalgoorlie is a small town geographically could attend to emergencies out of hours within10 min. Fifty-five babies were treated with CPAP when they developed respiratory distress. Of these, over half were term gestation, 14 (25%) 35–37 weeks gestation and 11 (20%) 32–34 weeks. The conditions requiring nCPAP were transient tachypnoea of the newborn, hyaline membrane disease, meconium aspiration syndrome, sepsis and birth asphyxia. None of the babies developed nasal trauma or pneumothorax while on CPAP. The majority 37 (67%) were discharged home without needing transfer to a tertiary centre (Fig. 1). Eighteen babies (33%) were transferred to the tertiary hospital. In eight instances, there was shortage of nursing staff; seven were sent for further investigations and management of complex conditions. Disposition of babies treated with nCPAP. Nasal CPAP is safe and effective therapy for infant respiratory distress even in a regional hospital.2 With adequate training of the staff and availability of paediatrician cover, nCPAP therapy reduces the number of transfers to tertiary facility. Although we acknowledge there was a small number treated over 5 years, our experience suggests that nCPAP is a feasible treatment option for late preterm and term infants even in regional centres.