title: Effects of infant flow Bi-NCPAP on apnea of prematurity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Infant flow biphasic nasal continuous positive airway pressure (Bi-NCPAP) and regular NCPAP (Re-NCPAP) are equally useful with respect to the rate of successful weaning from mechanical ventilation. It remains unclear, however, whether Bi-NCPAP or Re-NCPAP is more effective for reducing apnea of prematurity (AOP).
  
  
  METHODS
  A multicenter randomized controlled study was conducted of 66 infants assigned to receive Bi-NCPAP and 66 assigned to receive Re-NCPAP for respiratory support after extubation. Primary outcome was the number of AOP events during the 48 h observation period after successful extubation, defined as no reintubation and no adverse events associated with the use of NCPAP during the observation period. The secondary outcome was successful extubation. Reintubation was at the discretion of the attending physician.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Baseline characteristics were similar between the two groups. The number of AOP events during the 48 h observation period was significantly lower in infants with Bi-NCPAP than in those with Re-NCPAP (5.2 ± 6.5 vs 10.3 ± 10.9 per infant, respectively; P = 0.002). The rate of successful extubation tended to be greater in those with Bi-NCPAP than in those with Re-NCPAP (92.4%, 61/66 vs 80.3%, 53/66, respectively; P = 0.074). Adverse events occurred in only one of 132 infants: erosive dermatitis developed on the nose after application of Re-NCPAP. The risk of reintubation did not differ significantly between the two groups (7.6%, 5/66 for Bi-NCPAP vs 18.2%, 12/66 for Re-NCPAP; P = 0.117).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bi-NCPAP was superior to Re-NCPAP for reduction of AOP following extubation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, Perinatal Medical Center, Kagoshima City Hospital, Kagoshima, Japan.
authors.forename: Chie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ishihara
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, Perinatal Medical Center, Kagoshima City Hospital, Kagoshima, Japan.
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ibara
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, Kimitsu Chuo Hospital, Kisarazu, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshiteru
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ohsone
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, Funabashi Central Hospital, Funabashi, Japan.
authors.forename: Eiji
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, Perinatal Medical Center, Kagoshima City Hospital, Kagoshima, Japan.|Department of Neonatology, Fukuda Hospital, Kumamoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Takuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tokuhisa
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, Gifu Prefectural General Medical Center, Gifu, Japan.
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, Perinatal Medical Center, Kagoshima City Hospital, Kagoshima, Japan.|Department of Neonatology, Fukuda Hospital, Kumamoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshinobu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Maede
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, Perinatal Medical Center, Kagoshima City Hospital, Kagoshima, Japan.
authors.forename: Takako
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kuwahara
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan.
authors.forename: Hisanori
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Minakami
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001049:Apnea / Q000628:therapy*; D045422:Continuous Positive Airway Pressure / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: apnea; bronchopulmonary dysplasia; low birthweight; methylxanthine; tracheal intubation