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Am J Perinatol 2024; 41(12): 1616-1624
DOI: 10.1055/a-2242-7391
Review Article

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure versus Nasal Intermittent Positive Pressure Ventilation in Preterm Neonates: What if Mean Airway Pressures Were Equivalent?

Amit Mukerji
1   Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
,
Martin Keszler 
2   Department of Pediatrics, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
› Author Affiliations Funding A.M. is supported by a Research Early Career Award from Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation (2019–2024).
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Abstract

Respiratory support for preterm neonates in modern neonatal intensive care units is predominantly with the use of noninvasive interfaces. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) are the prototypical and most commonly utilized forms of noninvasive respiratory support, and each has unique gas flow characteristics. In meta-analyses of clinical trials till date, NIPPV has been shown to likely reduce respiratory failure and need for intubation compared to CPAP. However, a significant limitation of the included studies has been the higher mean airway pressures used during NIPPV. Thus, it is unclear to what extent any benefits seen with NIPPV are due to the cyclic pressure application versus the higher mean airway pressures. In this review, we elaborate on these limitations and summarize the available evidence comparing NIPPV and CPAP at equivalent mean airway pressures. Finally, we call for further studies comparing noninvasive respiratory support modes at equal mean airway pressures.

Key Points

  • Most current literature on CPAP vs. NIPPV in preterm neonates is confounded by use of higher mean airway pressures during NIPPV.

  • In this review, we summarize existing evidence on CPAP vs. NIPPV at equivalent mean airway pressures.

  • We call for future research on noninvasive support modes to account for mean airway pressures.

Keywords

noninvasive respiratory support - CPAP - NIPPV - distending pressure - future research

Authors' Contributions

A.M. co-devised the manuscript concept, and wrote the initial draft. M.K. co-devised the manuscript concept and critically reviewed and edited the manuscript draft. Both authors approve the final submitted version of the manuscript.




Publication History

Received: 05 September 2023

Accepted: 10 January 2024

Accepted Manuscript online:
11 January 2024

Article published online:
09 February 2024

© 2024. Thieme. All rights reserved.

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