IMPACT OF HIGH LEVELS OF CONTINUOUS POSITIVE AIRWAY PRESSURE ON CARDIAC OUTPUT IN PRETERM NEONATES: A PROSPECTIVE PHYSIOLOGICAL STUDY
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AbstractBACKGROUNDMany NICUs employ high (>8 cmH2O) positive end-expiratory pressures (PEEP) on nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) to prevent intubation and associated ventilator-induced lung injury, despite limited safety/efficacy data.OBJECTIVESThis study sought to evaluate the physiological impact of high NCPAP PEEP.DESIGN/METHODSFifteen preterm neonates at postmenstrual age ≥32 weeks (without congenital anomalies or acute intercurrent illness) on NCPAP PEEP of 5 cmH2O were enrolled. PEEP was increased by 2 cmH2O increments until 13 cmH2O. At each increment, following 5 minutes washout, cardiac output (aortic velocity-time integral x heart rate) and cardiorespiratory parameters including blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate were measured over 10 minutes. Predefined cut-off values for changes in cardiorespiratory parameters were used as termination criteria. Data are presented as mean (SD), and were compared using one-way ANOVA.RESULTSThe mean GA, age at study, and weight of subjects were 27.4 (2.6) weeks, 58.5 (35.5) days, and 2.3 (0.6) kg, respectively. Cardiac output (mL/kg/min) at PEEPs of 5, 7, 9, 11, and 13 cmH2O were not different at 295 (75), 290 (66), 281 (69), 286 (73), and 292 (58), respectively (P=0.986), as shown in Figure 1a. Importantly there were also no differences in either aortic velocity-time integral or heart rate over these PEEP ranges (Figures 1b and 1c). There were no significant differences in cardiorespiratory parameters; no subjects met cut-off criteria. Data collection was terminated in 2 subjects after PEEP 9 cmH2O due to lung over-distension subjectively noted on echocardiogram.CONCLUSIONHigh levels of NCPAP PEEP were well tolerated for short durations. Further physiological and clinical research is required on safety/efficacy in neonates with more severe lung disease, as well as its impact over longer durations.
