Characterizing continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) Belly Syndrome in preterm infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)

Reproducibly define CPAP Belly Syndrome (CBS) in preterm infants and describe associated demographics, mechanical factors, and outcomes.

A retrospective case-control study was conducted in infants <32 weeks gestation in the Stanford Children’s NICU from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2021. CBS was radiographically defined by a pediatric radiologist. Data analysis included descriptive statistics and comparator tests.

Analysis included 41 infants with CBS and 69 infants without. CBS was associated with younger gestational age (median 27.7 vs 30 weeks, p < 0.001) and lower birthweight (median 1.00 vs 1.31 kg, p < 0.001). Infants with CBS were more likely to receive bilevel respiratory support and higher positive end expiratory pressure. Infants with CBS took longer to advance enteral feeds (median 10 vs 7 days, p = 0.003) and were exposed to more abdominal radiographs.

Future CBS therapies should target small infants, prevent air entry from above, and aim to reduce time to full enteral feeds and radiographic exposure.