Regional Volume Characteristics of the Preterm Infant Receiving First Intention Continuous Positive Airway Pressure

Abstract

Objective To determine whether applying nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) using systematic changes in continuous distending pressure (CDP) results in a quasi-static pressure–volume relationship in very preterm infants receiving first intention CPAP in the first 12-18 hours of life. Study design Twenty infants at <32 weeks' gestation with mild respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) managed exclusively with nasal CPAP had CDP increased from 5 to 8 to 10 cmH2O, and then decreased to 8 cmH2O and returned to baseline CDP. Each CDP was maintained for 20 min. At each CDP, relative impedance change in end-expiratory thoracic volume (ΔZEEV) and tidal volume (ΔZVT) were measured using elec..