Abstract
Purpose
To compare respiratory and clinical outcomes between the currently used strategy of Intubation, Surfactant, Extubation (InSurE) and nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) and the alternative strategy of InSurE and nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) for the initial treatment of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in preterm newborns ≤32 weeks.
Methods
Twenty-six comparable preterm infants with RDS were included in the study; 13 were randomized to NCPAP and 13 to NIPPV. In both groups, the InSurE procedure consisted of intubation, surfactant instillation and 2 h positive pressure ventilation followed by extubation, after which spontaneously breathing newborns were placed on NCPAP or NIPPV.
Results
There were no differences in demographic characteristics or cardiorespiratory status among preterm infants enrolled in the study. The reinutation rate was lower among the infants treated with NIPPV than among those on NCPAP (8% vs. 46%, P