EFFICACY OF NASAL INTERMITTENT POSITIVE PRESSURE VENTILATION (NIPPV) IN TREATING APNEA OF PREMATURITY (AOP). † 2012

This study was to examine whether NIPPV was better than nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) in treating AOP. Infants with AOP (cessation of breathing > 20 sec, with frequency >2/hr for 4 hrs and associated with bradycardia) and failed to aminophylline (5 mg/kg, iv) therapy were randomly assigned to have NIPPV (PIP, 12-20 cmH₂O; PEEP, 4-5 cmH₂O; rate, 20/min; IT, 0.5 sec.) or NCPAP (4-5 cmH₂O). NIPPV(n=19) and NCPAP (n=13) groups were comparable in birth weight (955 ± 293 g vs 962 ± 140 g, P=0.47), gestational age (27.2 ± 2.2 wk vs 27.0 ± 1.2 wk, P=0.88), age at study (20.5 ± 12.0 d vs 17.6± 11.0 d, P=0.60), Hb 10.9 ± 2.0 g vs 12.5 ± 2.7 g, P=0.10), serum glucose, Na, K, and Ca levels and blood gas data. There were no differences in pH, PCO₂, and PO₂ levels during the study. Conclusion: NIPPV is more effective than NCPAP in reducing the frequency of apnea and bradycardia. The mechanisms may relate to intermittently stimulate the nasopharyngx and dilate the upper airway by NIPPV.Table

Table 1