Effect of continuous positive airway pressure versus nasal cannula on late preterm and term infants with transient tachypnea of the newborn

Objective To compare continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) with nasal cannula (NC) as primary noninvasive respiratory therapy in hypoxic infants for transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN). Study design Retrospective cohort study of infants born at ≥34 weeks of gestation between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2018. Result After adjusting for gestational age and birth weight, the maximum fractional inspired oxygen (FiO 2 ) was significantly lower in the CPAP group with an incidence rate ratio (IRR) of 0.85 (95% CI: 0.76–0.96). Although nonsignificant, the CPAP group needed 32% fewer hours on oxygen with an IRR of 0.68 (95% CI: 0.38–1.22). The duration of respiratory support and the incidence of pneumothorax were similar between both groups. Conclusion Comparing CPAP with NC as initial noninvasive respiratory therapy for TTN, significantly lower maximum FiO 2 was observed in the infants of CPAP group without increase in the incidence of pneumothorax.