Noninvasive therapies in the
NICU


View: CPAP, NHF, clinical literature

What is the difference between continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and nasal high flow (NHF)?
Compare therapies
Optiflow Junior 2 Nasal interface

Continuous positive airway pressure

CPAP is a mode of noninvasive respiratory support that provides continuous distending pressure throughout the respiratory cycle to spontaneously breathing patients.


CPAP requires a closed system and is typically delivered using a nasal interface, circuit and a pressure generator (either a bubble generator or ventilator).


Learn more about CPAP

 

CPAP interface –
 FlexiTrunk™

Intended to deliver prescribed pressure
Interface designed to seal and maintain prescribed pressure
Larger breathing tubes (compared to a standard oxygen cannula) lower resistance to flow

Primary mechanisms

 
Establishes functional residual capacity1
Reduces the work of breathing1
Promotes gas
exchange2

Choose CPAP when you want to:

  • set and control pressure

 

  • stent open lungs and airway

 

  • reduce the need for mechanical ventilation3

 

  • decrease the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia.4

Optiflow Junior 2 Nasal interface

Nasal high flow

NHF is a mode of noninvasive respiratory support that provides high flows of heated and humidified blended air and oxygen through an unsealed interface.


NHF requires an open system and is typically delivered using an unsealed nasal high flow interface and a single-limb circuit. The flow range is dependent on the flow driver/platform used.


Learn more about NHF

 

NHF interface –
 Optiflow™ Junior 2

Delivers prescribed flow
Interface designed to be unsealed
Narrower breathing tubes (compared with CPAP) increase resistance to flow

Primary mechanisms

 
Washes out anatomical dead space5
Reduces the work of breathing and improves oxygenation5,6
Improves patient comfort and tolerance to therapy7,8

Choose NHF when you want to:

  • set and control the flow rate

 

  • generate a low level of pressure

 

  • reduce nasal trauma9

 

  • decrease re-breathed CO2.

An overview of the clinical literature: CPAP and NHF for the neonatal population

CPAP continues to be the standard of care in neonates < 28 weeks' gestational age (GA). However, there are several pathways of care in which CPAP and NHF may be used.

Postextubation
 support

 

CPAP or NHF

Wilkinson et al. 2016
Cochrane Review

Primary respiratory support

 

CPAP or NHF

Bruet et al. 2021
Systematic Review

Alternative to prolonged CPAP

 

CPAP or NHF

Roehr et al. 2016, Yoder et al. 2017 Consensus

< 28 weeks' GA

CPAP first
For neonates with compromised lung development and a higher need for respiratory support.

 
From 28 weeks' GA

NHF first with rescue CPAP
This approach may be considered for neonates who are stable or require lower acuity of care because it provides two noninvasive options before mechanical ventilation needs to be taken into consideration.



Optiflow Junior 2
Blender Transition Kit

NHF therapy without changing the circuit.


This kit allows patients to receive NHF therapy as an alternative to prolonged CPAP therapy without changing the circuit. It comes with an Optiflow Junior 2 nasal cannula, pressure manifold and an adapter that connects to the inspiratory limb of the CPAP circuit. Available in five sizes.


View Optiflow Junior 2 Blender Transition Kit

The Rosie Maternity Hospital Documentary Series

The reason, the rollout and the results: The Rosie, a Cambridge University Hospital, shares its successful implementation of noninvasive therapies for neonatal patients.

The journey to implement noninvasive therapies at the Rosie

This video explores research behind the decision to deliver CPAP and NHF at the hospital.

NHF and CPAP in practice at the Rosie

Learn how the hospital is providing noninvasive therapies for its young patients.

 

The Rosie reveals how noninvasive therapies have impacted on the hospital

Hear how the successful implementation of NHF and CPAP therapies on to its wards is being experienced by staff and families.

F&P, FlexiTrunk and Optiflow are trademarks of Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited. For patent information, see www.fphcare.com/ip

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Dysart KC. Physiologic Basis for Nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, Heated and Humidified High-Flow Nasal Cannula, and Nasal Ventilation. Clinics in Perinatology. 2016 Dec;43(4):621–631. View abstract
Dysart KC. Physiologic Basis for Nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, Heated and Humidified High-Flow Nasal Cannula, and Nasal Ventilation. Clinics in Perinatology. 2016 Dec;43(4):621–631. View abstract
Lee KS, Dunn MS, Fenwick M, Shennan AT. A Comparison of Underwater Bubble Continuous Positive Airway Pressure with Ventilator-Derived Continuous Positive Airway Pressure in Premature Neonates Ready for Extubation. Neonatology. 1998;73(2):69–75. View abstract
Tapia JL, Urzua S, Bancalari A, Meritano J, Torres G, Fabres J et al. Randomized Trial of Early Bubble Continuous Positive Airway Pressure for Very Low-Birth-Weight Infants. The Journal of Pediatrics. 2012 Jul;161(1):75–80.e1. View abstract
Subramaniam P, Ho JJ, Davis PG. Prophylactic nasal continuous positive airway pressure for preventing morbidity and mortality in very preterm infants. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2016 Jun 14;(6). View abstract
Dysart K, Miller TL, Wolfson MR, Shaffer TH. Research in high-flow therapy: Mechanisms of action. Respiratory Medicine. 2009 Oct;103(10):1400–1405. View abstract
5.Dysart K, Miller TL, Wolfson MR, Shaffer TH. Research in high-flow therapy: Mechanisms of action. Respiratory Medicine. 2009 Oct;103(10):1400–1405. View abstract
6.Bressan S, Balzani M, Krauss B, Pettenazzo A, Zanconato S, Baraldi E. High-flow nasal cannula oxygen for bronchiolitis in a pediatric ward: a pilot study. European Journal of Pediatrics. 2013 Dec 31;172(12):1649–1656. View abstract
7.Osman M, Elsharkawy A, Abdel-Hady H. Assessment of pain during application of nasal-continuous positive airway pressure and heated, humidified high-flow nasal cannulae in preterm infants. Journal of Perinatology. 2015 Apr 27;35(4):263–267. View abstract
8.Spentzas T, Minarik M, Patters AB, Vinson B, Stidham G. Children With Respiratory Distress Treated With High-Flow Nasal Cannula. Journal of Intensive Care Medicine. 2009 Sep 23;24(5):323–328. View abstract
Yoder BA, Stoddard RA, Li M, King J, Dirnberger DR, Abbasi S. Heated, Humidified High-Flow Nasal Cannula Versus Nasal CPAP for Respiratory Support in Neonates. Pediatrics. 2013 May 1;131(5):e1482–1490. View abstract
Dysart KC. Physiologic Basis for Nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, Heated and Humidified High-Flow Nasal Cannula, and Nasal Ventilation. Clinics in Perinatology. 2016 Dec;43(4):621–631. View abstract
Dysart K, Miller TL, Wolfson MR, Shaffer TH. Research in high-flow therapy: Mechanisms of action. Respiratory Medicine. 2009 Oct;103(10):1400–1405. View abstract
Dysart KC. Physiologic Basis for Nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, Heated and Humidified High-Flow Nasal Cannula, and Nasal Ventilation. Clinics in Perinatology. 2016 Dec;43(4):621–631. View abstract
5.Dysart K, Miller TL, Wolfson MR, Shaffer TH. Research in high-flow therapy: Mechanisms of action. Respiratory Medicine. 2009 Oct;103(10):1400–1405. View abstract
6.Bressan S, Balzani M, Krauss B, Pettenazzo A, Zanconato S, Baraldi E. High-flow nasal cannula oxygen for bronchiolitis in a pediatric ward: a pilot study. European Journal of Pediatrics. 2013 Dec 31;172(12):1649–1656. View abstract
Lee KS, Dunn MS, Fenwick M, Shennan AT. A Comparison of Underwater Bubble Continuous Positive Airway Pressure with Ventilator-Derived Continuous Positive Airway Pressure in Premature Neonates Ready for Extubation. Neonatology. 1998;73(2):69–75. View abstract
7.Osman M, Elsharkawy A, Abdel-Hady H. Assessment of pain during application of nasal-continuous positive airway pressure and heated, humidified high-flow nasal cannulae in preterm infants. Journal of Perinatology. 2015 Apr 27;35(4):263–267. View abstract
8.Spentzas T, Minarik M, Patters AB, Vinson B, Stidham G. Children With Respiratory Distress Treated With High-Flow Nasal Cannula. Journal of Intensive Care Medicine. 2009 Sep 23;24(5):323–328. View abstract
Tapia JL, Urzua S, Bancalari A, Meritano J, Torres G, Fabres J et al. Randomized Trial of Early Bubble Continuous Positive Airway Pressure for Very Low-Birth-Weight Infants. The Journal of Pediatrics. 2012 Jul;161(1):75–80.e1. View abstract
Yoder BA, Stoddard RA, Li M, King J, Dirnberger DR, Abbasi S. Heated, Humidified High-Flow Nasal Cannula Versus Nasal CPAP for Respiratory Support in Neonates. Pediatrics. 2013 May 1;131(5):e1482–1490. View abstract
Subramaniam P, Ho JJ, Davis PG. Prophylactic nasal continuous positive airway pressure for preventing morbidity and mortality in very preterm infants. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2016 Jun 14;(6). View abstract