Continuous positive airway pressure: scientific and clinical rationale

Abstract

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To present recent data on the role of noninvasive ventilation in the respiratory management of newborn infants. RECENT FINDINGS: Noninvasive ventilation is growing in popularity but is applied using widely varying devices and settings. Although short-term physiological advantages were reported for bubble and variable-flow continuous positive airways pressure, neither has convincingly shown superior clinically important outcomes. Continuous positive airways pressure may be used as the initial mode of support for very preterm infants but increased rates of pneumothorax in infants not receiving surfactant are a concern. Methods of administering surfactant without endotracheal..