Work of Breathing During Constant- and Variable-Flow Nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure in Preterm Neonates

Constant-flow nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) often is used in preterm neonates to recruit and maintain lung volume. Physical model studies indicate that a variable-flow NCPAP device provides more stable volume recruitment with less imposed work of breathing (WOB). Although superior lung recruitment with variable-flow NCPAP has been demonstrated in preterm neonates, corroborating WOB data are lacking. To measure and compare WOB associated with the use of variable-flow versus constant-flow NCPAP in preterm neonates. Twenty-four preterm infants who were receiving constant-flow NCPAP (means, SD) and had birth weight of 1024 +/- 253 g, gestational age of 28 +/- 1.7 weeks, age of 14 +/- 13 days, and FIO(2) of 0.3 +/- 0.1 were studied. Variable-flow and constant-flow NCPAP were applied in random order. We measured changes in lung volume and tidal ventilation (V(T)) by DC-coupled/calibrated respiratory inductance plethysmography as well as esophageal pressures at NCPAP of 8, 6, 4, and 0 cm H(2)O. Inspiratory WOB (WOB(I)) and lung compliance were calculated from the esophageal pressure and V(T) data using standard methods. WOB was divided by V(T) to standardize the results. WOB(I) decreased at all CPAP levels with variable-flow NCPAP, with a maximal decrease at 4 cm H(2)O. WOB(I) increased at all CPAP levels with constant-flow CPAP. Lung compliance increased at all NCPAP levels with variable-flow, with a relative decrease at 8 cm H(2)O, whereas it increased only at 8 cm H(2)O with constant-flow NCPAP. Compared with constant-flow NCPAP, WOB(I) was 13% to 29% lower with variable-flow NCPAP. WOB(I) is decreased with variable-flow NCPAP compared with constant-flow NCPAP. The increase in WOB(I) with constant-flow NCPAP indicates the presence of appreciable imposed WOB with this device. Our study, performed in neonates with little lung disease, indicates the possibility of lung overdistention at CPAP of 6 to 8 cm H(2)O with the variable-flow device. Further study is necessary to determine the efficacy of variable-flow NCPAP in neonates with significant lung disease and its use over extended periods of time.continuous-flow and variable-flow NCPAP, work of breathing, premature neonates, lung compliance.