Current Pediatric Research

Background: The Continuous Positive Airway Pressure machine (CPAP) has revolutionalized the management in neonatal intensive care units. Nasal prongs and oxygen hoods are the standards of care for giving oxygen to babies in the NICU. Regarding the optimal timing and method of weaning from CPAP, there are no specific guidelines.

Objectives: This study aims at analysis of desaturation events, apneic episodes and success rate of two oxygen delivery devices: Nasal prongs and oxygen hood after weaning and reversal of CPAP in preterm babies.

Methods: All stable preterm babies weighing <37 weeks who are weaned off from CPAP were included. The study was conducted in tertiary care NICU in a rural medical college Sawangi Meghe, Wardha, Maharashtra. It was a cross sectional, comparative study done over 9 months with a sample size of 92 babies.

Results: The male to female ratio was 1.44:1. There was no statistical difference in the initial distribution of babies in the two groups (p-value 0.946). The incidences of early desaturations were more in the nasal prongs group as compared to the oxygen hood group (p-value<0.05). The episodes of severe desaturation (SpO₂<85%) in the first 24 hours were more commonly seen with nasal prongs while mild desaturation episodes were equal in both groups (p-value 0.479). The apneic episodes were less with nasal prongs. The success rate with nasal prongs and oxygen hood was found to be 77.27% and 54.54% respectively which is statistically significant (p-value<0.05). The most common underlying cause for the restart of CPAP was desaturation.

Conclusion: The success rate of nasal prongs and oxygen hood was 77.27% and 54.54% respectively. Oxygen hood is better in the prevention of desaturation.

Author(s): Mahaveer Singh Lakra*, Bhavana Lakhkar, Sagar Ajayrao Karotkar, Ashwini Lakra, Amar Taksande

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