Neonatal respiratory support strategies for the management of extremely low gestational age infants: an Italian survey.

Background: We aimed to survey Delivery Room and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) respiratory strategies dedicated to the extremely low gestational age newborn (ELGAN - GA < 28 wks) in Italy.

Methods: A questionnaire was sent to 113 Italian level III centres. A lead physician and a nurse with expertise in mechanical ventilation (MV) were identified in each unit to answer. Information about those aspects of ventilatory support considered by center's staff as needing improvement was also collected.

Results: A 100% response rate was obtained. In the Delivery Room, sustained lung inflation was performed in 74.8% of centres, and 89.2% used NCPAP. For ELGANs who need invasive MV, conventional MV was the most used strategy. Volume-targeted ventilation and High-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) were considered as primary mode in < 30% of centres. Among non-invasive strategies, NCPAP was the most utilized, followed by BiPAP, High-flow nasal cannula and nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation. Nurses more commonly recorded in the nursing charts the ventilator's setting parameters rather than measured ones. HFOV and non-invasive ventilation were the most quoted aspects of neonatal ventilation felt as to be improved.

Conclusion: The routine respiratory support practices in Italy showed marked variations among units. Focused interventions are largely required to improve clinical practice.