Title:Nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure versus High-Flow Nasal
Cannula for the Treatment of Respiratory Distress Syndrome in Preterm
Neonates: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Volume: 21
Issue: 3
Author(s): Mohammad Reza Aramesh, Sahar Majidinezjad*, Masoud Dehdashtian, Arash Malakian and Shooka Mohammadi
Affiliation:
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical
Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
Keywords:
Preterm neonates, HFNC, respiratory distress syndrome, NCPAP, RDS, premature infants.
Abstract:
Background: There is no consensus regarding the comparison between nasal continuous
positive airway pressure (NCPAP) and high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) in the treatment of respiratory
distress syndrome (RDS) among premature infants.
Objective: This randomized controlled trial (RCT) assessed the efficacy of NCPAP compared to
HFNC for the treatment of preterm neonates with RDS.
Methods: The study was conducted at Imam Hospital (Ahvaz, Iran) among preterm neonates with
RDS and gestational ages ranging from 28 to 34 weeks. One hundred twenty preterm neonates
were randomly allocated to the HFNC or NCPAP groups (n = 60). Demographic and clinical characteristics
were collected.
Results: This trial was carried out with 51 male and 69 female preterm neonates. There were no
substantial differences between the HFNC and NCPAP groups in gender distribution, occurrence
rates of premature rupture of membranes (PROM), necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), cardiopulmonary
resuscitation (CPR), Cesarean delivery, patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), intraventricular hemorrhage
(IVH), pneumothorax, chronic lung disease (CLD), treatment failure, and mortality (P >
0.05). The mean body weight, gestational age, Apgar and RDS scores, duration of invasive mechanical
ventilation (IMV), length of oxygen therapy, hospitalization period, duration to reach full
feeding, arterial blood pH, or gas levels were not significantly different between the two groups.
However, the HFNC group exhibited a lower incidence of nasal trauma, required more surfactant
therapy, and had a longer duration of intervention compared to the NCPAP group.
Conclusion: There were no significant differences between NCPAP and HFNC for the treatment
of RDS in preterm infants.
Clinical Trial Registration Number: IRCT20200616047788N1.
