title: Continuous Positive Airway Pressure: To Bubble or Not to Bubble?
abstract: Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) systems can be broadly grouped into continuous flow or variable flow devices. Bubble CPAP (bCPAP) is a continuous flow device and has physiologic properties that could facilitate gas exchange. Its efficacy has been reported to be similar to variable flow CPAP systems when used as a primary mode of respiratory support. Post-extubation bCPAP is reported to significantly reduce extubation failure rates among preterm infants ventilated for less than 2 week when compared to Infant flow driver CPAP (variable flow). bCPAP has been successfully used in resource-poor settings. The success on CPAP is however dependant on good nursing care and clear management protocols for weaning and escalation of care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, University Hospital of North Tees, Durham University, Hardwick road, Stockton-on-Tees, TS19 8PE, United Kingdom. Electronic address: Samir.gupta@nth.nhs.uk.
authors.forename: Samir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.affiliation: Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, University of Michigan Health System, 1540 East Hospital Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
authors.forename: Steven M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Donn
mesh_terms: D045422:Continuous Positive Airway Pressure / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000628:therapy*
keywords: Bubble CPAP; Continuous positive airway pressure, CPAP; Respiratory support; Ventilation