title: In vitro comparison of nasal continuous positive airway pressure devices for neonates.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the resistance in vitro of different devices used for the delivery of nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) in neonates.
  
  
  METHODS
  Flows of 4-8 litres/min were passed through a selection of neonatal NCPAP devices (single prong, Duotube, Argyle prong, Hudson prong, Infant Flow Driver), and the resultant fall in pressure measured using a calibrated pressure transducer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The decrease in pressure (cm H(2)O) for each device (size in parentheses) at a constant flow of 6 litres/min was: Duotube: (2.5), 21; (3.0), 6.2; (3.5), 2.3; single prong: (2.5), 4.4; (3.0), 2.1; (3.5), 1.2; Argyle prong: (XS), 3.6; (S), 1.9; (L), 1.5; Hudson prong: (0), 3.1; (1), 1.8; (2), 0.6; (3), 0.4; (4), 0.3; Infant Flow Driver: (small), 0.3; (medium), -0.3; (large), -0.5.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A large variation in the potential fall in pressure may occur in the clinical setting. Devices with short double prongs had the lowest resistance to flow. These results have implications in the selection of the optimal device/s for clinical application and for future comparisons in randomised trials of NCPAP in neonates.
authors.affiliation: Neonatal Services, Royal Women's Hospital, Carlton, Victoria, Australia. depaoli@cryptic.rch.unimelb.edu.au
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: De Paoli
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Morley
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hingeley
mesh_terms: D000403:Airway Resistance / Q000502:physiology; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009666:Nose; D011175:Positive-Pressure Respiration / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011312:Pressure