Delivery room CPAP in improving outcomes of preterm neonates in low-and middle-income countries: A systematic review and network meta-analysis

Non-Invasive Ventilatory Support in Preterm Neonates in the Delivery Room and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A Short Narrative Review of What We Know in 2024

BACKGROUND

Guidelines recommend non-invasive ventilatory (NIV) support as first-line respiratory support mode in preterm infants as NIV is superior to intubation and mechanical ventilation in preventing death or bronchopulmonary dysplasia. However, with an ever-expanding variety of NIV modes available, there is much debate about which NIV modality should ideally be used, how, and when. The aims of this work were to summarise the evidence on different NIV modalities for both primary and secondary respiratory support: nCPAP, nasal high-flow therapy (nHFT), and nasal intermittent positive airway pressure ventilation (nIPPV), bi-level positive airway pressure (BiPAP), nasal high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (nHFOV), and nasally applied, non-invasive neurally adjusted ventilatory assist (NIV-NAVA) modes, with particular focus on their use in preterm infants.

SUMMARY

This is a narrative review with reference to published guidelines by European Consensus Guidelines on the Management of Respiratory Distress Syndrome: 2022 Update. nCPAP is currently the most commonly used primary and secondary NIV modality for premature infants. However, there is increasing evidence on the superiority of nIPPV over nCPAP. No beneficial effect was found for BiPAP over nCPAP. For the use of nHFT, nHFOV, and NIV-NAVA, more studies are needed to establish their place in neonatal respiratory care.

KEY MESSAGES

The superiority of nIPPV over nCPAP needs to be confirmed by contemporaneous trials comparing nCPAP to nIPPV at comparable mean airway pressures. Future trials should study NIV modalities in preterm infants with comparable respiratory pathology and indications, at comparable pressure settings and with different modes of synchronisation. Importantly, future trials should not exclude infants of the smallest gestational ages.

European Consensus Guidelines on the Management of Respiratory Distress Syndrome: 2022 Update

Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) care pathways evolve slowly as new evidence emerges. We report the sixth version of "European Guidelines for the Management of RDS" by a panel of experienced European neonatologists and an expert perinatal obstetrician based on available literature up to end of 2022. Optimising outcome for babies with RDS includes prediction of risk of preterm delivery, appropriate maternal transfer to a perinatal centre, and appropriate and timely use of antenatal steroids. Evidence-based lung-protective management includes initiation of non-invasive respiratory support from birth, judicious use of oxygen, early surfactant administration, caffeine therapy, and avoidance of intubation and mechanical ventilation where possible. Methods of ongoing non-invasive respiratory support have been further refined and may help reduce chronic lung disease. As technology for delivering mechanical ventilation improves, the risk of causing lung injury should decrease, although minimising time spent on mechanical ventilation by targeted use of postnatal corticosteroids remains essential. The general care of infants with RDS is also reviewed, including emphasis on appropriate cardiovascular support and judicious use of antibiotics as being important determinants of best outcome. We would like to dedicate this guideline to the memory of Professor Henry Halliday who died on November 12, 2022.These updated guidelines contain evidence from recent Cochrane reviews and medical literature since 2019. Strength of evidence supporting recommendations has been evaluated using the GRADE system. There are changes to some of the previous recommendations as well as some changes to the strength of evidence supporting recommendations that have not changed. This guideline has been endorsed by the European Society for Paediatric Research (ESPR) and the Union of European Neonatal and Perinatal Societies (UENPS).

History of Neonatal Resuscitation: From Uncivilized to Evidence-based Practices

Neonatal resuscitation, an early and critical intervention in human life, has dramatically evolved. This procedure has gone through phases from uncivilized practices that were sometimes based on myths to the current evidence-based approaches. In this review, we will shed light on the evolution of neonatal resuscitation from early centuries to the current day. Our goal is to highlight the value of clinical research and its role in invalidating hazardous practices and establishing evidence-based guidelines.

Prediction of surfactant requirement in Indian preterm infants by lung ultrasound scores: a diagnostic accuracy study from a developing country

The purpose of this study is to validate lung ultrasound score (LUS) for prediction of surfactant replacement therapy (SRT) in Indian infants of 27-33^6/7 weeks gestational age (GA). This prospective diagnostic accuracy study was conducted in a level 3 neonatal care unit in India. Consecutively born preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) were enrolled. Surfactant was administered if oxygen requirement exceeded > 30%. Baseline characteristics, respiratory parameters, and lung ultrasound images were recorded soon after admission and compared between surfactant and non-surfactant groups. Adjusted odds ratio (OR) and diagnostic accuracy of LUS were calculated for SRT. Among 78 infants with RDS included in the final analysis, 62 received surfactant (79.48%). Median time of performing lung ultrasound was 50 min of life in both groups. Median LUS in the anterior and posterior chest areas of either side as well as total LUS was significantly higher in the surfactant group. After adjusting for other confounders, LUS was found to be a significant predictor of SRT (adjusted OR (95%CI): 1.55 (1.15-2.087)). Diagnostic accuracy of LUS was determined by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis (AUC (95% CI): 0.751 (0.64-0.842), p < 0.001). A cutoff score of ≥ 9 for LUS was considered optimal for SRT (sensitivity (95%CI): 70.97% (57.87-81.45), specificity (95%CI): 68.75% (41.48-87.87)).

CONCLUSION

Lung ultrasound is a valid diagnostic tool for SRT in Indian setting with a cutoff score ≥ 9.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

CTRI/2021/11/038269.

WHAT IS KNOWN

• Surfactant requirement in preterm infants with RDS has been traditionally based on FiO2 criteria. • Lung ultrasound score can predict the need for surfactant although majority of the studies originated in developed countries.

WHAT IS NEW

• Lung ultrasound is a valid tool for surfactant replacement therapy even in developing countries like India.