Bubble Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) With Conventional CPAP for Extubation in Preterm Infants

Bubble CPAP vs. Conventional CPAP Following Extubation in Preterm Very Low Birth Weight (VLBW) Infants: A Randomized Controlled Trial

The objective of this study is to evaluate whether CPAP delivered by bubble CPAP resulted in a greater proportion of infants being successfully extubated when compared with management with ventilator derived CPAP.

There have been no published randomized trials comparing extubation failure rates of Bubble CPAP with conventional ventilator derived CPAP. Infants of gestation <32 weeks and of birth weight less than 1500 grams considered by the treating team to be ready for the initial extubation within first week of life were screened for enrolment. All eligible neonates were randomly allocated to bubble CPAP or conventional CPAP.The purpose of this study is to compare whether infants on Bubble CPAP had more chances of successful extubation as compared to infants put on Conventional CPAP.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Gestation less than 32 weeks
• Birth weight less than 1500 g
• Age less than seven days
• First extubation attempt.

Exclusion Criteria:

• A neonate having any of the following will be excluded from the study-
• Severe birth asphyxia defined as need for chest compression for more than 30 seconds
• Suspected congenital neuromuscular disorder
• Major congenital malformation
• Grade 3/4 interventricular haemorrhage
• Hydrops.