Noninvasive Ventilation of Preterm Infants

Abstract

Increasingly, clinicians aim to minimize exposure of preterm infants to mechanical ventilation by using “noninvasive” ventilation (NIV). This chapter summarizes the historical context and physiologic principles underpinning NIV and the evidence for the use of current modes of NIV in preterm infants. These modes include nasal continuous positive airway pressure, nasal intermittent positive-pressure ventilation, high-frequency nasal ventilation, and nasal high-flow therapy.