Continuous positive airway pressure therapy for infants with respiratory distress in non tertiary care centers: a randomized, controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
Our objective was to determine whether continuous positive airway pressure therapy would safely reduce the need for up-transfer of infants with respiratory distress from nontertiary centers.


METHODS
We randomly assigned 300 infants at >30 weeks of gestation with respiratory distress to receive either Hudson prong bubble continuous positive airway pressure therapy or headbox oxygen treatment (standard care). The primary end point was "up-transfer or treatment failure." Secondary end points included death, length of nursery stay, time receiving oxygen therapy, cost of care, and other measures of morbidity.


RESULTS
Of 151 infants who received continuous positive airway pressure therapy, 35 either were up-transferred or experienced treatment failure, as did 60 of the 149 infants given headbox oxygen treatment. There was no difference in the length of stay or the duration of oxygen treatment. For every 6 infants treated with continuous positive airway pressure therapy, there was an estimated cost saving of $10,000. Pneumothorax was identified for 14 infants in the continuous positive airway pressure group and 5 in the headbox group. There was no difference in any other measure of morbidity or death.


CONCLUSIONS
Hudson prong bubble continuous positive airway pressure therapy reduces the need for up-transfer of infants with respiratory distress in nontertiary centers. There is a clinically relevant but not statistically significant increase in the risk of pneumothorax. There are significant benefits associated with continuous positive airway pressure use in larger nontertiary centers.
Buckmaster
Adam G
AG
Northern Sydney Central Coast Area Health Service, Gosford Hospital, PO Box 361, Gosford, NSW, 2250 Australia. abuckmaster@nsccahs.health.nsw.gov.au
Arnolda
Gaston
G
Wright
Ian M R
IM
Foster
Jann P
JP
Henderson-Smart
David J
DJ
D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D045422:Continuous Positive Airway Pressure / Q000191:economics; D017046:Cost Savings; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009725:Nurseries, Hospital; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000453:epidemiology; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy*; D014187:Transportation of Patients / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016896:Treatment Outcome