Nasal continuous positive airway pressure for respiratory distress in non-tertiary care centres: what is needed and where to from here?

Comparison of Nasal CPAP versus Bi-level CPAP in Transient Tachypnea of the Newborn: A Randomized Trial

OBJECTIVE

The optimal noninvasive ventilation (NIV) modality in the treatment of transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN) is still unknown. The aim of this study was to compare nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) versus bi-level CPAP in the treatment of TTN.

STUDY DESIGN

This was a prospective randomized study that was conducted in a tertiary level neonatal intensive care unit of Zekai Tahir Burak Women's Health Education and Research Hospital during the 1-year period between April 2017 and March 2018. The study included infants at ≥34 gestational weeks and birth weight ≥2,000 g who were diagnosed with TTN. The patients were randomized to either NCPAP or bi-level CPAP groups as initial respiratory support. The primary outcome was the rate of NIV failure.

RESULTS

A total of 151 infants were incorporated into the study. The intubation rate was significantly higher in the NCPAP group (15/75) compared with the bi-level CPAP group (6/76) (p = 0.032). There was a significant decrease in the level of pCO₂ at the 12 (60.7 ± 6.7 vs. 66.3 ± 8.8, p = 0.017) and 24 (50 ± 8 vs. 53 ± 10, p = 0.028) hours of NIV in the bi-level CPAP group compared with the NCPAP group. Duration of NIV, total respiratory support, hospital stay, and the incidence of pneumothorax were similar between the groups.

CONCLUSION

Bi-level CPAP reduced the rate of NIV failure and pCO₂ levels at the 12 and 24 hours in late preterm and term infants with a diagnosis of TTN.

KEY POINTS

· Bi-level CPAP seems to be a safe and effective method in TTN.. · Bi-level CPAP may reduce the rate of NIV failure in late preterm and term infants with TTN.. · Future studies are warranted to answer the question whether bi-level CPAP might be used as a standard treatment in babies with TTN..

A Comparison of Moderate to Late Preterm Neonates Receiving Nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure in Australian Tertiary and Nontertiary Centers

PURPOSE

Transfer of neonates ≥32 weeks' gestation with acute respiratory distress to tertiary (T) centers can be reduced by treatment with nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) in nontertiary (NT) centers. This can lead to considerable financial and emotional benefits. The aim of this project was to compare management of nCPAP in T and NT centers.

DESIGN

Five-year retrospective, observational cohort study (2010-2014).

SAMPLE

All NT eligible neonates from four sites (n = 484) were compared with a similar randomized cohort of inborn neonates at two T centers (n = 601) in Victoria, Australia.

MAIN OUTCOME VARIABLE

Any difference in management or short-term outcome.

RESULTS

Moderately preterm and term neonates born in NT centers had lower Apgar scores at five minutes of age and received more conservative management delivered by different equipment. Despite a higher incidence of air leaks in NT centers, the short-term outcomes were otherwise similar between centers. T centers were more likely to administer nCPAP to term babies for <24 hours.

Cost-Effectiveness of Nasal High Flow Versus CPAP for Newborn Infants in Special-Care Nurseries

BACKGROUND

Treating respiratory distress in newborns is expensive. We compared the cost-effectiveness of 2 common noninvasive therapies, nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and nasal high-flow (nHF), for newborn infants cared for in nontertiary special care nurseries.

METHODS

The economic evaluation was planned alongside a randomized control trial conducted in 9 Australian special care nurseries. Costs were considered from a hospital perspective until infants were 12 months of age. A total of 754 infants with respiratory distress, born ≥31 weeks' gestation and with birth weight ≥1200 g, <24 hours old, requiring noninvasive respiratory support and/or supplemental oxygen for >1 hour were recruited during 2015-2017. Inpatient costing records were obtained for 753 infants, of whom 676 were included in the per-protocol analysis. Two scenarios were considered: (1) CPAP versus nHF, with infants in the nHF group having "rescue" CPAP backup available (trial scenario); and (2) CPAP versus nHF, as sole primary support (hypothetical scenario). Effectiveness outcomes were rate of endotracheal intubation and transfer to a tertiary-level NICU.

RESULTS

As sole primary support, CPAP is more effective and on average cheaper, and thus is superior. However, nHF with back-up CPAP produced equivalent cost and effectiveness results, and there is no reason to make a decision between the 2 treatments on the basis of the cost or effectiveness outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Nontertiary special care nurseries choosing to use only 1 of the modes should choose CPAP. In units with both modes available, using nHF as first-line therapy may be acceptable if there is back-up CPAP.

Action research on neonatal nursing staff: Experiences caring for bubble continuous positive airway pressure patients

The objective of this study was to understand the experiences of special care nursery (SCN) nurses tending patients on bubble continuous positive airway pressure (bCPAP). The action research (AR) method with focus group interview was used, and five focus-group interviews were conducted between November 2015 and January 2016. Twenty SCN nurses who had cared neonates on bCPAP for at least one shift were recruited and interviewed. Six themes were revealed in two stages. The first stage was "experience of change," three themes evolved: "resistance to change," "lack of confidence on new care model," and "request administrative supports and resources from the hospital level." The second stage was "willing to take challenge," three themes evolved: "pursuit of proficiency in bCPAP care," "mastering bPCAP: acquiring self-efficacy, becoming competent, and collaborating as a team," and "the development of creative care methods." In the future when confronted with nurses resisting to new policies or changes, administrators should embrace their emotions, address their insecurity and fear, and provide adequate training to improve confidence through familiarity. Application of this model can help with policy implementation, thereby improving the overall caring quality.

Lost in Transition: Is Early Respiratory Support in Newborn Infants the Best Option?

BACKGROUND

Late preterm and term newborns with respiratory distress are increasingly treated with non-invasive ventilation (NIV) including nasal high-flow or continuous positive airway pressure. For infants with mild distress, NIV may be unnecessary.

OBJECTIVES

We speculated that treatment with supplemental oxygen (SO) prior to NIV could help clinicians select infants for NIV treatment, and examined this hypothesis using data from a recently completed trial.

METHOD

Post hoc analysis of data from a subset of infants enrolled in the HUNTER trial. Infants born at ≥36 weeks' gestation were categorized by whether they were receiving SO prior to randomization. The 2 groups were compared for illness severity (indicated by treatment failure at 72 h, mechanical ventilation, need for up-transfer, SO requirement post-randomization, and length of time receiving respiratory support), use of selected medical interventions (antibiotics, intravenous fluids), and breastfeeding at discharge.

RESULTS

Analysis included 380 infants. Infants not receiving SO had less severe illness; lower rates of treatment failure (7.3 vs. 17.2%), mechanical ventilation (0.6 vs. 5.9%), need for transfer (6.8 vs. 13.8%), and more often did not receive any SO post-randomization (75.1 vs. 3.0%). Most infants in both groups received intravenous fluids (93 and 98%) and antibiotics (81 and 93%); the rate of full breastfeeding was low in both groups (51 and 45%).

CONCLUSIONS

Late preterm and term newborn infants without SO requirement at the time of commencing NIV for respiratory distress are at lower risk of requiring treatment escalation. Close observation of these infants (watch and wait strategy) may avoid unnecessary treatment.

Nasal High-Flow Therapy for Newborn Infants in Special Care Nurseries

BACKGROUND

Nasal high-flow therapy is an alternative to nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) as a means of respiratory support for newborn infants. The efficacy of high-flow therapy in nontertiary special care nurseries is unknown.

METHODS

We performed a multicenter, randomized, noninferiority trial involving newborn infants (<24 hours of age; gestational age, ≥31 weeks) in special care nurseries in Australia. Newborn infants with respiratory distress and a birth weight of at least 1200 g were assigned to treatment with either high-flow therapy or CPAP. The primary outcome was treatment failure within 72 hours after randomization. Infants in whom high-flow therapy failed could receive CPAP. Noninferiority was determined by calculating the absolute difference in the risk of the primary outcome, with a noninferiority margin of 10 percentage points.

RESULTS

A total of 754 infants (mean gestational age, 36.9 weeks, and mean birth weight, 2909 g) were included in the primary intention-to-treat analysis. Treatment failure occurred in 78 of 381 infants (20.5%) in the high-flow group and in 38 of 373 infants (10.2%) in the CPAP group (risk difference, 10.3 percentage points; 95% confidence interval [CI], 5.2 to 15.4). In a secondary per-protocol analysis, treatment failure occurred in 49 of 339 infants (14.5%) in the high-flow group and in 27 of 338 infants (8.0%) in the CPAP group (risk difference, 6.5 percentage points; 95% CI, 1.7 to 11.2). The incidences of mechanical ventilation, transfer to a tertiary neonatal intensive care unit, and adverse events did not differ significantly between the groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Nasal high-flow therapy was not shown to be noninferior to CPAP and resulted in a significantly higher incidence of treatment failure than CPAP when used in nontertiary special care nurseries as early respiratory support for newborn infants with respiratory distress. (Funded by the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council and Monash University; HUNTER Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry number, ACTRN12614001203640.).

Risk and benefits of Bubble Continuous Positive Airway Pressure for neonatal and childhood respiratory diseases in Low- and Middle-Income countries

Over 80% of the global burden of childhood deaths occur in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMIC). Of the leading causes of death, respiratory failure is common to the top three. Bubble Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (bCPAP) is a standard therapy considered safe and cost effective in high resource settings. Although high-quality trials from LMIC are few, pooled available trial data considered alongside studies from high-income countries suggest that bCPAP: (i) reduces mortality; (ii) reduces the need for mechanical ventilation; and (iii) prevents extubation failure. Wider availability and optimal use at all levels of the health care system in LMIC are important steps to improve childhood survival. Studies aimed at effectively implementing, and sustaining safe use of bCPAP in the resource limited setting of LMIC are required.

Non-invasive respiratory support for infants in low- and middle-income countries

The overwhelming majority of neonatal deaths worldwide occur in low- and middle-income countries. Most of these deaths are attributable to respiratory illnesses and complications of preterm birth. The available data suggest that non-invasive continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is a safe and cost-effective therapy to reduce neonatal morbidity and mortality in these settings. Bubble CPAP compared to mechanical ventilator-generated CPAP reduces the need for subsequent invasive ventilation in newborn infants. There are limited data on the safety and efficacy of high-flow nasal cannulae in low- and middle-income countries, requiring further study prior to widespread implementation.

Development and validation of a simple algorithm for initiation of CPAP in neonates with respiratory distress in Malawi

BACKGROUND

Low-cost bubble continuous positive airway pressure (bCPAP) systems have been shown to improve survival in neonates with respiratory distress, in developing countries including Malawi. District hospitals in Malawi implementing CPAP requested simple and reliable guidelines to enable healthcare workers with basic skills and minimal training to determine when treatment with CPAP is necessary. We developed and validated TRY (T: Tone is good, R: Respiratory Distress and Y=Yes) CPAP, a simple algorithm to identify neonates with respiratory distress who would benefit from CPAP.

OBJECTIVE

To validate the TRY CPAP algorithm for neonates with respiratory distress in a low-resource setting.

METHODS

We constructed an algorithm using a combination of vital signs, tone and birth weight to determine the need for CPAP in neonates with respiratory distress. Neonates admitted to the neonatal ward of Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, in Blantyre, Malawi, were assessed in a prospective, cross-sectional study. Nurses and paediatricians-in-training assessed neonates to determine whether they required CPAP using the TRY CPAP algorithm. To establish the accuracy of the TRY CPAP algorithm in evaluating the need for CPAP, their assessment was compared with the decision of a neonatologist blinded to the TRY CPAP algorithm findings.

RESULTS

325 neonates were evaluated over a 2-month period; 13% were deemed to require CPAP by the neonatologist. The inter-rater reliability with the algorithm was 0.90 for nurses and 0.97 for paediatricians-in-training using the neonatologist's assessment as the reference standard.

CONCLUSIONS

The TRY CPAP algorithm has the potential to be a simple and reliable tool to assist nurses and clinicians in identifying neonates who require treatment with CPAP in low-resource settings.

Efficacy and safety of bubble CPAP in neonatal care in low and middle income countries: a systematic review

INTRODUCTION

Forty per cent of global child deaths occur in the neonatal period. Low and middle income countries need effective and simple methods to improve hospital-based neonatal care. Bubble continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) may have a role in improving the quality of respiratory support in hospitals in low and middle income countries.

AIM

To examine the evidence for the efficacy and safety of bubble CPAP in neonates with respiratory distress in low and middle income settings.

METHOD

A systematic search (1946-March 2014) was performed of Pubmed, Ovid MEDLINE, Web of Science, Google Scholar and the references of relevant articles. Articles meeting inclusion criteria (CPAP for respiratory distress in infants <28 days of age in hospitals in low and middle income countries) were assessed using Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation and Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale methodology. Outcomes included need for mechanical ventilation, complications and mortality.

RESULTS

In three studies, the initial use of bubble CPAP compared with oxygen therapy, followed by mechanical ventilation if required, reduced the need for mechanical ventilation by 30%-50%. In another three trials comparing bubble CPAP with ventilator CPAP, mortality and complication rates were similar, while meta-analysis of CPAP failure in these same trials showed a lower failure rate in the bubble CPAP groups (p <0.003).

CONCLUSIONS

There is evidence that bubble CPAP is safe and reduces the need for mechanical ventilation. Further research into the efficacy of bubble CPAP in low-income and middle-income countries is needed.