• Anna Lavizzari, Chiara Veneroni, Mariarosa Colnaghi, Francesca Ciuffini, Emanuela Zannin, Monica Fumagalli, Fabio Mosca, and Raffaele L Dellacà.
• Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed. 2014 Jul 1;99(4):F315-20.

ObjectiveTo compare the effect of heated, humidified, high-flow nasal cannula (HHHFNC) and nasal continuous positive airways pressure (NCPAP) on lung function and mechanics in preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) at the same level of retropharyngeal pressure (Prp).DesignRandomised crossover trial.SettingNeonatal intensive care unit, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.Patients20 preterm infants (gestational age: 31±1 wks) with mild-moderate RDS requiring non-invasive respiratory support within 96 h after birth.InterventionsInfants were exposed to a randomised sequence of NCPAP and HHHFNC at different settings (2, 4 and 6 cmH₂O for NCPAP and 2, 4, 6 L/min for HHHFNC) to enable comparison at the same level of Prp.Main Outcome MeasuresTidal volume by respiratory inductance plethysmography, pleural pressure estimated by oesophageal pressure, and gas exchange were evaluated at each setting and used to compute breathing pattern parameters, lung mechanics and work of breathing (WOB).ResultsA poor linear regression between flow and Prp was found during HHHFNC (Prp=0.3+0.7*flow; r²=0.37). Only in 15 out of 20 infants it was possible to compare HHHFNC and NCPAP at a Prp of 2 and 4 cmH₂O. No statistically significant differences were found in breathing pattern, gas exchange, lung mechanics and total WOB. Resistive WOB in the upper airways was slightly but significantly higher during HHHFNC (0.65 (0.49;1.09) vs 1.57 (0.85;2.09) cmH₂O median (IQR)).ConclusionsDespite differing mechanisms for generating positive airway pressure, when compared at the same Prp, NCPAP and HHHFNC provide similar effects on all the outcomes explored.

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