Randomised, controlled trial of nasal continuous positive airway pressure in the extubation of infants weighing 600 to 1250 g

Abstract

Aim - To determine whether extubation to nasal continuous airway pressure (NCPAP) results in a greater proportion of infants remaining free of additional ventilatory support for one week after extubation compared with those extubated directly to headbox oxygen. Methods - A randomised, controlled, clinical trial was conducted at the neonatal intensive care unit of the Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne, of infants with birthweights between 600 and 1250 g, ventilated via an endotracheal tube for more than 12 hours, requiring less than 50% oxygen, a ventilator rate ≤ 20/minute, considered by the clinical management team to be ready for extubation. Infants were randomly allocated either to NCPAP ..