Role of nasal CPAP in management of neonates with respiratory distress

Objective: to evaluate the role of nasal continuous airway pressure in management of neonates with respiratory distress. setting: neonatal intensive care unit,shalamar hospital,lahore. study period: january 2007 till december 2008. patients and method: during study period 331 (7.2%) neonates delivered in this hospital presenting with predominant symptom of respiratory distress were included. 84 infants who failed to maintain sao2 > 85% on humidified oxygen alone,were given nasal cpap of 3-10 cm of water through benveniste's valve and silastic nasal prongs. results: mean duration of administering cpap was 58 hours. hyaline membrane disease was the commonest indication for starting cpap and was associated with best survival rate (60.6%). outcome was better in infants weighing > 1500 gm. conclusion: nasal cpap is an effective and easy therapeutic tool in managing neonates with respiratory distress. abbreviations: ett - endotracheal tube,cpap-continuous positive airway pressure,hmd - hyaline membrane disease,sao2 - oxygen saturation,ippv - intermittent positive pressure ventilation,transient tachypnea of newborn,mas - meconium aspiration syndrome,chd - congenital heart disease.