Failure of early nasal continuous positive airway pressure in preterm infants of 26 to 30 weeks gestation.

OBJECTIVE

To identify variables associated with early nasal continuous positive airway pressure (ENCPAP) failure in preterm neonates less than 30 weeks gestational age.

STUDY

DESIGN

Multicenter prospective study including 131 preterm newborns, over a period of 2 years. Patients and respiratory variables were assessed using univariate analysis.

RESULT: Variables associated with ENCPAP failure were: the need of resuscitation with a FiO(2)>0.30; a CPAP pressure of 6.4±1.2 cm H(2)O; the need of a FiO(2) of 0.40 in the first 4 h of life; male gender maintaining the need of a FiO(2)>0.25 in the first 4 h of life; and respiratory distress syndrome with criteria for surfactant administration.

CONCLUSION

The need for oxygen in resuscitation and maintained in first hours of life, male gender, a CPAP pressure over 5 cm H(2)O and surfactant need are predictors of ENCPAP failure in preterm neonates 26 to 30 weeks gestational age.