Evaluation of three non-invasive ventilation modes after extubation in the treatment of preterm infants with severe respiratory distress syndrome.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of three different modes of non-invasive post-extubation ventilation support in preterm infants with severe respiratory distress syndrome (RDS).

Methods: Infants diagnosed with severe RDS after extubation were randomized to receive nasal continuous positive airway pressure ventilation (NCPAP), nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV), and non-invasive high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (NHFO). The clinical outcomes and complications of infants in different groups were recorded.

Results: In infants less than 32 weeks, NCPAP had a significant increase in extubation failure when compared with NIPPV and NHFO, and the gastrointestinal feeding time, the numbers of apnea, and hospitalization costs in the NCPAP group were significantly higher. The incidence of complications was also higher in the NCPAP group. There was no difference in clinical outcomes and complications in infants greater than 32 weeks.

Conclusion: For infants with severe RDS less than 32 weeks after extubation, NIPPV and NHFO are more cost-effective in comparison to NCPAP.