Dr Gao Weiwei
Guangdong Province Hospital for Women and Children Health Care, China
Title: Early HHHFNC versus NIPPV for primary respiratory support in preterm infants
Biography
Biography: Dr Gao Weiwei
Abstract
Background and Objective
There are limited data to inform the choice between early treatment with heated humidified high-flow nasal cannulae (HHHFNC) and early treatment with nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) as the initial support for preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome(RDS).The objective was to assess the efficacy and safety of HHHFNC compared with NIPPV for preterm infants with RDS in our NICU.
Methods
In this prospective trial, infants, who were born between 28 weeks 0 days to 36 weeks 6 days of gestation, were randomized to HHHFNC or to NIPPV treatment initiated in the neonatal intensive care unit. The primary outcome was the incidence of intubation, defined as the need for intubation within 72 hours or within 7 days.
Results
A total of 208 infants were enrolled in the study. The incidence of intubation did not differ significantly between the two groups. The relative risks (RR) for the primary outcome of incidence of intubation within 72 hours or 7 days were 0.89 (95% CI, 0.37 to 2.11; p=0.79) and 0.00 (95% CI, 0.00 to 0.00), respectively. The rate of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in each of the two groups was similar (RR 1.49; 95% CI, 0.24 to 9.08; p=0.67). The rates of other adverse neonatal outcomes did not differ significantly between the two groups.
Conclusion
HHHFNC is an alternative to NIPPV for the early treatment of respiratory distress in preterm infants.