Evidence · Randomised trial
Physiological effects of high-flow nasal cannula therapy in preterm infants.
- CPAP and high flow
- Medical
- Nursing
- Respiratory
This paper is from 2020, more than five years ago. Newer evidence may have been published since.
Summary
This prospective randomised crossover study examined the respiratory physiology of high-flow nasal cannula therapy compared with nasal CPAP in 44 clinically stable preterm infants across three weight groups. It measured nasopharyngeal end-expiratory pressure, tidal volume, dead space washout, oxygen saturation and vital signs across a range of flow rates. Higher flows generated clinically significant distending pressure with considerable variability, influenced by mouth position and infant weight, and supported a role for dead space washout. The findings inform safe use and flow selection for high-flow therapy on neonatal units.
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- Licence:
- Open (Creative Commons)
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