Weaning of Nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) in Premature Infants

Weaning of Nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure in Infants Born With a Gestational Age Under 32 Weeks: a Randomized Controlled Multicenter Trial

The aim of this study is to investigate two different strategies for the withdrawal of CPAP in preterm infants born before 32 weeks of gestation.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Gestational age < 32 weeks at birth
• Current gestational age > 28+6 weeks
• Nasal CPAP for > 24 hours
• Nasal CPAP pressure < 8 cmH2O
• Oxygen requirement < 30% and not increasing
• Respiratory rate < 70 per minute
• Less than 3 episodes of oxygen saturation < 70% or a heart rate < 70 beat per minute in the preceding 24 hours
• Tolerates time off CPAP during cares (up to 15 minutes)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Congenital malformations of the heart (except patent ductus arteriosus, atrial septal defect and patent foramen ovale), lung, and gastrointestinal tract
• Surgical procedures performed on the gastrointestinal tract
• Known or suspected to have congenital neuromuscular disease
• Known or suspected syndrome