Implementation of a novel bubble continuous positive airway pressure system with a blender in preterm infants in a low resource setting

To determine if a novel CPAP system is associated with physiologic improvement in premature infants in a low resource setting and if the introduction of blended oxygen would reduce FiO2.

Feasibility study of infants ≤2000 g or ≤32 weeks gestational age with early respiratory distress who were placed on Vayu CPAP with continuous pulse oximetry. Physiologic parameters were recorded prior to initiation and through the first 24 h.

Seventy-six infants of birthweight 1360 ± 324 g and gestational age 31.2 ± 2.5 weeks were included. Compared to baseline, heart rate, respiratory rate, FiO2, and Silverman Anderson score significantly decreased while oxygen saturations significantly increased at one hour with persistence through 24 h.

Utilization of Vayu CPAP in premature infants with respiratory distress was associated with immediate improvement in physiologic parameters. Use of blended oxygen coupled with pulse oximetry facilitates reduction in delivered oxygen.