A Randomized Trial of Low-Flow Oxygen versus Nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure in Preterm Infants

Background: Nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) stabilizes the residual volume and may decrease the risk of 'atelectotrauma', potentially promoting lung development in neonates. Objectives: To assess whether replacing nCPAP by low-flow O-2 by nasal cannula affects lung function expressed as the arterial/alveolar oxygen tension ratio (a/A pO(2) ratio) on postnatal day 28. Methods: Preterm infants (birth weight<1,500 g and gestational age, GA >26 + 0 weeks) stable on nCPAP between postnatal days 4 and 7 were randomized to nCPAP or low-flow O-2 by nasal cannula (<0.2 liters/min). Study criteria defined how to wean/restart respiratory support or change from low-flow O-2 to nCPAP and vice versa. Transcutaneous monitoring was used for the assessment of the a/A pO(2) ratio on day 28 using a head box for all infants for accurate measurement and to eliminate possible effects from nCPAP or low-flow O-2 on oxygen requirement. Results: We enrolled 52 infants (nCPAP group n = 30 and low-flow O-2 group n = 22). The a/A pO(2) ratio at 28 days was 0.43 +/- 0.17 (nCPAP group) versus 0.48 +/- 0.18 (p = 0.36). The duration of nCPAP was 16.4 (low-flow group) versus 41.1 days (nCPAP group), p<0.001. There was no difference between groups in the fraction needing any respiratory support at 36 weeks' corrected age, length of stay, weight at discharge, and relative weight gain. Conclusions: Replacing nCPAP by low-flow O-2 in preterm infants with GA >26 weeks at the end of the first week of life did not seem to affect the a/A pO(2) ratio or weight gain negatively. Thus, prolonged nCPAP seems not to have a positive effect on lung function at 28 days of life and replacement by low-flow O-2 could reduce the cost of equipment and increase the ease of nursing. (C) 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel