Continuous Positive Airway Pressure vs. Intubation for Very Premature Infants

CPAP was not statistically superior to intubation, but the relative difference suggests some benefit.

Among very premature infants, the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia might be lower with nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) than with endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation. In a multisite clinical trial, researchers randomized 610 infants who were born at gestational ages of 25 through 28 weeks and who needed ventilatory support to receive CPAP or intubation and ventilation at 5 minutes after birth. Infants who required immediate intubation were excluded.

At 36 weeks’ gestational age, the primary outcome — bronchopulmonary dysplasia or death — did not differ significantly between groups (33.9% for CPAP and 38.9% for intubation). At 28 days of age, risk for death or need for oxygen treatment was significantly l…

Reviewing Author

Howard Bauchner, MD

Disclosures

Grant / research supportHuman Resources and Services Administration; NIH; NIH-NHLBI; USDA; GlaxoSmithKline

Editorial boardsArchives of Disease in Childhood (Editor-in-Chief)

Howard Bauchner, MD

Disclosures

Grant / research supportHuman Resources and Services Administration; NIH; NIH-NHLBI; USDA; GlaxoSmithKline

Editorial boardsArchives of Disease in Childhood (Editor-in-Chief)