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Randomized Trial of Nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure or Synchronized Nasal Ventilation in Premature Infants.

Phase 3
Completed
Conditions
Apnea
Infant, Premature
Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia
Registration Number
NCT00188968
Lead Sponsor
University of Manitoba
Brief Summary

Very premature infants uniformly do not have mature functioning lungs to breathe well nor mature regulation mechanisms to breathe regularly. Assistance with a mechanical respirator is common. However, prolonged use of a respirator can itself cause long-term complications. Furthermore, commonly used drugs to improve the regularity of breathing may have long-term consequence only recently recognized. This study will compare two different types of assistance using a nasally applied breathing assist device. The aim is to see which type of assistance is best at avoiding the need for both prolonged respirator use and drugs to regulate breathing.

Detailed Description

Early extubation of premature infants may limit the deleterious effects of positive pressure ventilation. The primary cause of failure of extubation (and the need for reintubation) is apnea of prematurity. Standard treatment for improving extubation success and decreasing apnea of prematurity is with the use of nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP), use of methylxanthines, or both. Recent literature suggests that methylxanthines may have significant effect on long-term neurodevelopmental outcome.

This primary objective of this study is to investigate the effect of synchronized nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation (sNIPPV) combined with standard nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) versus standard nCPAP alone, on the need for reintubation and the need of methylxanthine therapy in premature infants. The study period for the primary objective will be the first 7 days immediately after the initial extubation of premature infants with birth weights 500-1250 grams. A secondary objective is to identify any differences in duration of time free of endotracheal intubation and duration of time free of methylxanthine use between the two treatment modalities as measured from the first extubation attempt.

The study is a randomized, controlled trial using a new CPAP machine (Infant Flow advance™) that will be able to provide nCPAP with and without sNIPPV. Because of the mechanics of the sNIPPV mode, blinding of the study is not possible. The study is pragmatic in design allowing the medical staff to make clinical decisions on ventilatory management based on the routinely used criteria thus evaluating the study interventions in the everyday clinical environment. Analysis will be on an intention-to-treat basis.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
48
Inclusion Criteria
  • Premature infants with birth weight 500-1250 grams
  • first attempt at extubation
Exclusion Criteria

(clinical suspicion or documented diagnosis of:

  • neuromuscular disease
  • chromosomal abnormality
  • or any congenital anomalies that would affect ability to be extubated from mechanical ventilation via endotracheal tube (i.e. congenital cardiac anomalies, choanal atresia).

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Need for methylxanthine treatment OR the need for re-intubation in the first 7 days after the initial extubation in preterm infants intubated for treatment of respiratory distress.7 days immediately after first extubation attempt
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Duration of time to methylxanthine treatment.During first 7 days and during hospitalization
Duration of supplemental oxygen useDuring hospitalization
Incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (both 28 days of age, and 36 weeks PCA)28 days of age, 36 weeks PCA
Frequency of apneas during the initial 7 days post-extubation.Initial 7 days post-extubation
Complications of therapy (air leak syndromes, gastric and intestinal distension).During Hospitalization

Trial Locations

Locations (2)

Health Sciences Centre

🇨🇦

Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

St. Boniface General Hospital

🇨🇦

Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

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