Work of breathing using high-flow nasal cannula in preterm infants.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the work of breathing (WOB) in premature neonates supported with high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) and nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP).


METHODS
Eighteen preterm neonates <2.0 kg on HFNC or NCPAP support were studied in a random order. A ventilator was used to deliver 6 cm H2O of NCPAP with nasal prongs. High-flow nasal cannula delivered with Vapotherm (VAPO) at 3, 4 and 5 l/min was used. Tidal ventilation was obtained using respiratory inductance plethysmography calibrated with face-mask pneumotachography. An esophageal balloon estimated pleural pressure from which changes in end distending pressure were calculated. Inspiratory, elastic and resistive WOB and respiratory parameters were calculated.


RESULTS
No differences were found in the WOB for all settings. Changes in end distending pressure did not vary significantly over all device settings except VAPO at 5 l/min.


CONCLUSIONS
In these preterm infants with mild respiratory illness, HFNC provided support comparable to NCPAP.
Saslow
J G
JG
Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, The Children's Regional Hospital at Cooper University Hospital, Camden, NJ 08103, USA. saslow-judy@cooperhealth.edu
Aghai
Z H
ZH
Nakhla
T A
TA
Hart
J J
JJ
Lawrysh
R
R
Stahl
G E
GE
Pyon
K H
KH