PURPOSE
To evaluate the efficacy of Optimal humidification during Nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (nCPAP) for Extremely Low Birth Weight Infant (ELBWI).
METHODS
The study design was a pre-test-post-test nonequivalent nonsynchronized quasi-experimental design. The participants were 218 ELBWI on nCPAP (experimental group: 102 and control group: 116). Data collection was conducted from January 2005 to April 2010. In order to measure and analyze the nCPAP duration, reintubation and nasal condition, Chi-square test and t-test were used.
RESULTS
Hypothesis 1, that the duration with nCPAP in the experimental group is longer than that of the control group and hypothesis 2-3, that the rate of reintubation and nasal problems in the experimental group are lower than the control group, were all supported as there were statistically significant differences between two groups.
CONCLUSION
The findings suggest that the Optimal humidification in this study is an efficient intervention because it helps increase the last time of nCPAP with ELBWI and minimize complications. It is expected that Optimal humidification is beneficial and helpful in preventing and caring for respiratory problems in these infants.

Citations

• Systematic Review of Effects of Nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure on Apnea of Preterm Infants.
  Eun Joo Kim
  Child Health Nursing Research.2014; 20(3): 225.     CrossRef
• High Flow Nasal Cannula versus Nasal CPAP in Preterm Infants
  Seong-ho Yoon, Young-hee Kwon, Hyun-kyung Park, Chang-ryul Kim, In-jun Seol, Hyun Ju Lee
  Journal of the Korean Society of Neonatology.2011; 18(2): 293.     CrossRef

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to analysis the effects of nasal Continuous Postive Airway Pressure (nCPAP) for preterm infants using systematic review and meta-analysis.
METHODS
Thirteen peer-reviewed journals including preterm infants and apnea and nCPAP published between 1973 and 2013 were included. Effect size and statistics of homogeneity were done using STATA 10.0.
RESULTS
The design for 9 studies was Randomized Control Trial. In most of studies the pressure of nCPAP was set to 4-6 cmH2O. The effect size of 5 studies for the effect on apnea rate using nCPAP compared to nasal Intermittent Positive Pressure Ventilator (nIPPV) showed that the Standardized Mean Difference (SMD) was -0.11 and was not significantly different (Z=0.41, p=.680). But the difference in nCPAP for nasal Synchronizes Intermittent Positive Pressure Ventilator (nSIPPV) (subgroup) was significant (SMD=-.44). The effect size of 7 studies on effect for ventilator weaning of using nCPAP compared to nIPPV showed the Risk Ratio (RR) as 1.60 and was not significantly different (Z=1.12, p=.268). But the difference between nCPAP and nSIPPV (subgroup) was significant (RR=3.94).
CONCLUSION
The results indicate a need for an advanced care system and suggest continuous studies of apnea in preterm infants.