A randomized controlled trial to compare heated humidified high-flow nasal cannulae with nasal continuous positive airway pressure postextubation in premature infants

Abstract

Objective: To determine whether postextubation respiratory support via heated, humidified, high-flow nasal cannulae (HHHFNC) results in a greater proportion of infants younger than 32 weeks' gestation being successfully extubated after a period of endotracheal positive pressure ventilation compared with conventional nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP). Study design: We randomly assigned preterm ventilated infants to Vapotherm HHHFNC or NCPAP after extubation. The primary outcome, extubation failure, was defined by prespecified failure criteria in the 7 days after extubation. Results: A total of 132 ventilated infants younger than 32 weeks' gestation were randomized to receive e..