Early bubble CPAP and outcomes in ELBW preterm infants.
OBJECTIVE
To test whether the introduction of early bubble continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) results in improved respiratory outcomes in extremely low birth-weight infants.


METHODS
Outcomes of all infants between 401 and 1000 g born in a level 3 neonatal intensive care units (NICU) between July 2000 and October 2001 (period 2) were compared using historical controls (period 1). Early bubble (CPAP) was prospectively introduced in the NICU during period 1. Univariate and adjusted comparisons were made across time periods.


RESULTS
Delivery room intubations, days on mechanical ventilation and use of postnatal steroids decreased (p<0.001) in period 2, while mean days on CPAP, number of babies on CPAP at 24 hours (p<0.001) and mean weight at 36 weeks corrected gestation also increased (p<0.05) after introduction of early bubble CPAP.


CONCLUSIONS
Early bubble CPAP reduced delivery room intubations, days on mechanical ventilation, postnatal steroid use and was associated with increased postnatal weight gain with no increased complications.
Division of Neonatology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0541, USA.
Vivek
V
Narendran
Edward F
EF
Donovan
Steven B
SB
Hoath
Henry T
HT
Akinbi
Jean J
JJ
Steichen
Alan H
AH
Jobe
D001997:Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia / Q000517:prevention & control; D003696:Delivery Rooms; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D008297:Male; D011175:Positive-Pressure Respiration; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015430:Weight Gain