Introduction of Infant Flow nasal continuous airway pressure as the standard of practice in Poland: The initial 2-year experience

Abstract

The new method of nCPAP with Infant Flow was adopted as standard practice in Poland. We monitored its safety and effectiveness over a 2-yr period and found it to be safe and effective as implemented. Additional research is still needed to determine the optimum patient population, strategy for use, and devices.

Iatrogenic skin injury in the neonatal intensive care unit

“…Nasal injury secondary to nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) in neonates has been reported since the 1980s, with rates between 20% and 60% [54][55][56][57][58][59][60][61][62][63]. Factors that contribute to nasal injury are incorrect application of the device, inadequate monitoring of skin and surrounding tissue, inappropriate size of prongs or mask, and inappropriate size and/or application of the head-securing device [61][62][63][64].…”

“…Factors that contribute to nasal injury are incorrect application of the device, inadequate monitoring of skin and surrounding tissue, inappropriate size of prongs or mask, and inappropriate size and/or application of the head-securing device [61][62][63][64]. Improvements in the material and design of NCPAP prongs have alleviated some of the risks, but in the smallest infants, particularly those less than 1000 g, maintaining proper fit and pressure distribution can be nearly impossible (Figure 8).…”

Synchronized Nasal Intermittent Positive-Pressure Ventilation and Neonatal Outcomes

“…A significant number of infants (20 to 63%) with respiratory distress treated with NCPAP alone (either as initial management or post-extubation) still require intubation and mechanical ventilation 10-13, without an impact on the incidence of BPD 14, 15.…”

Relative effectiveness of two nasal continuous positive airway pressure devices in VLBW infants: first report from a multicenter, randomized, controlled trial

“…Nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) is accepted as an effective and relatively complication-free method of respiratory support of premature infants [1,2]. We intended to compare the effectiveness of two nCPAP devices/approaches (Hudson prongs/bubble (H), and Infant Flow (IF)), in different groups of very low birth weight infants in a large trial.…”