title: High flow nasal cannula versus NCPAP, duration to full oral feeds in preterm infants: a randomised controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the time taken by preterm infants with evolving chronic lung disease to achieve full oral feeding when supported with humidified high flow nasal cannula (HFNC) or nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP).
  
  
  METHODS
  Single centre randomised controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Level III neonatal intensive care unit at the Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
  
  
  METHODS
  Very low birthweight (birth weight <1500 g) infants born before 30 weeks' gestation who were NCPAP-dependent at 32 weeks corrected gestational age were eligible to participate.
  
  
  METHODS
  Enrolled infants were randomised in a 1:1 ratio to receive HFNC or NCPAP. Participants were monitored daily until full oral feeding was established and the baby was off respiratory support.
  
  
  METHODS
  Our primary outcome was the number of days taken to establish full oral feeds (defined as oral intake ≥120 mL/kg/day) from the time of randomisation. We estimated that enrolling 44 subjects (22 in each group) would allow us demonstrate a 7-day difference in our primary outcome with 80% power and α of 5%.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-four infants were randomised (22 to HFNC vs 22 to NCPAP). The mean time to achieve full oral feeding was not different between the groups (HFNC 36.5 (±18.2) days vs NCPAP 34.1 (±11.2) days, p=0.61).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Preterm infants treated with HFNC did not achieve full oral feeding more quickly than infants treated with NCPAP.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ISRCTN66716753.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Sinead J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Glackin
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: O'Sullivan
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.|UCD School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Sherly
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: George
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.|Institute for the Care of Mother and Child, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Jana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Semberova
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.|UCD School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.|Institute for the Care of Mother and Child, Prague, Czech Republic.|3rd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Miletin
mesh_terms: D001903:Bottle Feeding; D045422:Continuous Positive Airway Pressure / Q000379:methods*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D062071:Infant, Extremely Premature / Q000502:physiology*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D063087:Noninvasive Ventilation / Q000379:methods*; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000628:therapy*; D015300:Ventilator Weaning
keywords: Continuous Positive Airway Pressure; Enteral Nutrition; High Flow Nasal Cannula; Preterm Infant