CPAP - The choice of the mask does matter

We present a case of a patient with uncorrected Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) despite good CPAP compliance with an oronasal mask who was referred to our tertiary care multidisciplinary sleep unit. We present here our systematic and comprehensive re-evaluation of the case, accompanied by an image of the polysomnography recordings that exemplify each step in the process, which concludes with a change to nasal CPAP and a transition to BPAP treatment. Keywords: obstructive sleep apnea; CPAP; BPAP; oronasal mask; nasal mask.

Cardiopulmonary exercise testing in patients with moderate-severe obesity: a clinical evaluation tool for OSA?

Purpose Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a widespread comorbidity of obesity. Nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) has been demonstrated very effective in treating patients with OSA. The aims of this study were to investigate whether or not cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) can characterize patients with OSA and to evaluate the effect of nasal CPAP therapy. Methods An observational study was conducted on patients with moderate to severe obesity and suspected OSA. All patients underwent cardiorespiratory sleep study, spirometry, and functional evaluation with ECG-monitored, incremental, maximal CPET. Results Of the 147 patients, 94 presented with an apnea–hypopnea index (AHI) ≥ 15 events/h and were thus considered to have OSA (52 receiving nasal CPAP treatment; 42 untreated) while 53 formed a control group (AHI < 15 events/h). Patients with untreated OSA showed significantly lower oxygen uptake (VO2), heart rate, minute ventilation (VE), and end tidal carbon dioxide (PETCO2) at peak exercise compared to controls. Patients receiving nasal CPAP showed higher VE and VO2 at peak exercise compared to untreated patients. A difference in PETCO2 between the maximum value reached during test and peak exercise (ΔPETCO2 max-peak) of 1.71 mmHg was identified as a predictor of OSA. Conclusion Patients with moderate to severe obesity and untreated OSA presented a distinctive CPET-pattern characterized by lower aerobic and exercise capacity, higher PETCO2 at peak exercise associated with a lower ventilatory response. Nasal CPAP treatment was shown to positively affect these cardiorespiratory adaptations during exercise. ΔPETCO2 max-peak may be used to suggest OSA in patients with obesity.

USE OF EARLY NASAL CONTINUOUS POSITIVE AIRWAY PRESSURE IN PRETERM NEONATES WITH HYALINE MEMBRANE DISEASE

Background & Objective: Mechanical ventilation is the standard treatment for hyaline membrane disease (HMD) and has increased neonatal survival. However this increased survival has come at the expense of increased morbidity in the form of chronic lung disease, longer duration of hospitals stay and at the cost of expensive technology. Alternate form of respiratory support is early nasal CPAP. Hence present study aims at managing increasing number of preterm babies with HMD with a non-invasive approach in the form of early nasal CPAP. Methods: 50 babies of 28-34 weeks gestational age admitted in neonatal ICU of pediatrics Department at Patna Medical collage & hospital, Patna with clinical diagnosis of HMD, requiring respiratory support were treated with early nasal CPAP and studied prospectively from 01.12.2019 to 30.11.2020. Chi-square and other appropriate tests. We found a succ Statistical analysis: Results: ess rate of 80% in babies with HMD, who were managed with early nasal CPAP alone. Remaining 20% needed intubation and higher mode of ventilation. Mild and moderate grade HMD were effectively managed with early nasal CPAP (P<0.05). It was also found to be effective in babies of mothers who have received antenatal steroids (P<0.05). Prematurity is the commonest predi Conclusion: sposing cause for HMD. Early nasal CPAP is safe, inexpensive and effective means of respiratory support in HMD. it is useful in mild and moderate grade disease. It may not be a replacement for assisted ventilation in severe disease. It is also found to be effective in babies of mothers who have received antenatal steroids

Use of early nasal continuous positive airway pressure in preterm neonates with hyaline membrane disease (neonatal respiratory distress syndrome)

Background: In developing countries like ours, there is high burden of prematurity and sub-optimal use of antenatal steroid administration resulting infrequent hyaline membrane disease (HMD).Methods: A total 50 cases of clinically diagnosed HMD with gestational age between 28-34 weeks admitted to neonatal intensive care unit (ICU). 50 babies were treated with early nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) (within 6 hours of onset of respiratory distress).Results: Incidence of prematurity was 12.42%. Incidence of HMD observed between gestational ages of 28-34 weeks is 3.2%. Out of total 50 babies who were managed with early nasal CPAP, it proved effective in 40 babies (80%), remaining 10 babies (20%) had to be intubated and required ventilation. Out of 10 babies who required ventilation 90% of the babies were less than 32 weeks gestation age; remaining 10% were between 33-34 weeks. Analysis of these results showed that outcome is better with increased gestational age (p<0.005). Out of 10 babies who failed 80% were <1500 g and remaining 20% above 1500 g. We found significant improvement (p<0.005) in SA score after application of nasal CPAP. Babies on CPAP had significant improvement in oxygenation (p<0.05). A success rate of 93.1% observed in moderate grade HMD (p<0.005). Out of 10 babies who failed on nasal CPAP, 80% of them had severe grade HMD and 20% showed moderate HMD. A success rate of 92.86% was found in babies of mothers who had received antenatal steroids and 63.63% of babies whose mothers had not received antenatal steroids improved with early nasal CPAP (p<0.05).Conclusions: Nasal CPAP is found to be effective in babies of mothers who had received antenatal steroids. Nasal CPAP is safe, inexpensive and effective means of respiratory support in HMD. Use of early nasal CPAP which is simple, non-invasive, has low capital outlay and does not require expertise, is the option for us where most places cannot provide invasive ventilation.

Predictor Factors of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Failure in Preterm Infants with Respiratory Distress

Respiratory distress contributes significantly to mortality, and morbidity in preterm infants. The incidence of nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) failure is remarkably high. There are limited data available regarding nasal CPAP failure in Indonesia, and this study is expected to be a reference in taking preventive measures to reduce mortality and morbidity in preterm infants. To determine predictive factors of nasal CPAP failure in preterm infants with respiratory distress. A retrospective cohort study was conducted in preterm infants with respiratory distress at the Neonatology ward of Dr. Sardjito Hospital during January 2017-July 2019. Chi-square or Fisher’s exact tests, followed by multivariate logistic regression analysis with backward method, was used to identify factors contributing to nasal CPAP failure. A total of 150 infants were included in this study. Fifty-three (37.8%) infants had nasal CPAP failure. Bivariate analysis showed birth weight <1000 g, singleton, APGAR score 4-7, premature rupture of membrane (PROM), Downes score, and initiation of fractional concentration of inspired (FiO2) requirement were all risk factors of nasal CPAP failure. However, only birth weight <1000 g ( P = .022; OR 2.69; CI 95% 1.34-5.44), initial Downes score ( P = .035; OR 2.68; CI 95% 3.10-24.11), and initiation of FiO2 requirement ≥30% ( P = .0001; OR 3.03; CI 95% 2.04-4.50) were significant predictors for nasal CPAP failure by multivariate analysis. Birth weight <1000 g, singleton, initial Downes score, and initiation of FiO2 requirement >30% were significant predictors of nasal CPAP failure in preterm infants with respiratory distress.

Ultrasound assessment of gastric emptying in premature infants treated with non-invasive ventilatory support

Background: Nasal CPAP introduces positive pressure of air into both trachea and stomach, which may affect gastric emptying. The rate of gastric emptying can be estimated by US by two validated techniques: “antral cross-sectional area” (2-dimensional estimate of the surface area at the gastric antrum), and “spheroid gastric volume” (3-dimensional estimate of the stomach content volume). No study examined gastric emptying rate in infants on bubble CPAP (bCPAP). Objective: To compare gastric emptying rates in neonates on machine-derived nasal CPAP (MD-nCPAP) with those on bCPAP. Methods: Ultrasound measurements of the amount of milk in the stomach were performed before feeding and at 1, 2, and 3 hours after the start of feeding, using both the ACSA and spheroid methods. Rates of gastric emptying were calculated during the “early” (1-2 hours) and “late” (2-3 hours) phases after feeding. Results: We recruited 32 infants (25-34 weeks gestational age). Seventeen infants were treated with MD-nCPAP [median birth weight 1015 g (IQR: 870 to 1300), gestational age 28 weeks (IQR: 27 to 29), postnatal age 20 days (IQR: 14 to 28)], while 15 infants were treated with bCPAP [median birth weight 960 g (IQR: 855 to 1070), gestational age 27 weeks (IQR: 26 to 28), postnatal age 17 days (IQR: 15 to 25)]. Gastric emptying rates (% emptied/min) were significantly faster in the “early” compared to the “late” phase for all infants. There were no significant differences in the rates of gastric emptying (either “early” or “late”) or volumes of gastric residuals between infants receiving MD-nCPAP or bCPAP, measured by either method. Conclusions: Gastric emptying is faster during the “early” compared to the “late” phase. Gastric emptying rates are not different in infants receiving MD-nCPAP vs bCPAP.

Application of two different nasal CPAP levels for the treatment of respiratory distress syndrome in preterm infants—“The OPTTIMMAL-Trial”—Optimizing PEEP To The IMMAture Lungs: study protocol of a randomized controlled trial

Background Nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) applies positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) and has been shown to reduce the need for intubation and invasive mechanical ventilation in very low birth weight infants with respiratory distress syndrome. However, CPAP failure rates of 50% are reported in large randomized controlled trials. A possible explanation for these failure rates is the application of insufficient low levels of PEEP during nasal CPAP treatment to maintain adequate functional residual capacity shortly after birth. The optimum PEEP level to treat symptoms of respiratory distress in very low birth weight infants has not been assessed in clinical studies. The aim of the study is to compare two different PEEP levels during nasal CPAP treatment in preterm infants. Methods In this randomized multicenter trial, 216 preterm infants born at 26 + 0–29 + 6 gestational weeks will be allocated to receive a higher (6–8 cmH2O) or a lower (3–5 cmH2O) PEEP during neonatal resuscitation and the first 120 h of life. The PEEP level within each group will be titrated throughout the intervention based on the FiO2 (fraction of inspired oxygen concentration) requirements to keep oxygenation within the target range. The primary outcome is defined as the need for intubation and mechanical ventilation for > 1 h or being not ventilated but reaching one of the two pre-defined CPAP failure criteria (FiO2 > 0.5 for > 1 h or pCO2 ≥ 70 mmHg in two consecutive blood gas analyses at least 2 h apart). Discussion Based on available data from the literature, the optimum level of PEEP that most effectively treats respiratory distress syndrome in preterm infants is unknown, since the majority of large clinical trials applied a wide range of PEEP levels (4–8 cmH2O). The rationale for our study hypothesis is that the early application of a higher PEEP level will more effectively counteract the collapsing properties of the immature and surfactant-deficient lungs and that the level of inspired oxygen may serve as a surrogate marker to guide PEEP titration. Finding the optimum noninvasive continuous distending pressure during early nasal CPAP is required to improve CPAP efficacy and as a consequence to reduce the exposure to ventilator-induced lung injury and the incidence of chronic lung disease in this vulnerable population of very preterm infants. Trial registration drks.de DRKS00019940. Registered on March 13, 2020