A Comparison of Non-invasive Ventilation Methods Used to Prevent Endotracheal Intubation Due to Apnea in Very Low Birth Weight Infants

A Comparison of Non-invasive Ventilation Methods Used to Prevent Endotracheal Intubation Due to Apnea in Very Low Birth Weight Infants

The purpose of this study is to determine whether nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) reduces the need for endotracheal intubation in very low birth weight infants with persistent apnea who fail nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP).

Inclusion Criteria:

• Infants born at < 30 weeks gestational age who develop clinically significant apnea while on NCPAP > 6cm H2O or whose team is considering intubation due to apnea. Consider clinically significant apnea as 1 or more events treated with bag-mask ventilation or 3 episodes of apnea requiring stimulation within 1 hour.
• Infants on maximum caffeine therapy (10mg/kg/day)

Exclusion Criteria:

- Major congenital anomalies including congenital heart disease