Infants with severe respiratory syncytial virus needed less ventilator time with nasal continuous airways pressure then invasive mechanical ventilation

AimNasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) has been proposed as an early first-line support for infants with severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection. We hypothesised that infants <6months with severe RSV would require shorter ventilator support on NCPAP than invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). MethodsRetrospective cohort analysis of infants admitted to two paediatric intensive care units, one primarily using NCPAP and one exclusively using IMV, between January 2008 and February 2010. ResultsWe studied 133 (NCPAP n=89, IMV n=46) consecutively admitted infants. On admission, disease severity [i.e. Paediatric RISk of Mortality (PRISM) II score (NCPAP 5.12.8 vs. IMV 12.2 +/- 6.0, p<0.001) and SpO(2)/FiO2 ratio (NCPAP 309 +/- 81 vs. IMV 135 +/- 98, p<0.001)] was higher in the IMV group. NCPAP remained independently associated with shorter ventilatory support (hazard ratio 2.3, 95% CI 1.1-4.7, p=0.022) after adjusting for PRISM II score, PCO2, SpO(2)/FiO2 ratio, bronchopulmonary dysplasia and occurrence of clinically suspected secondary bacterial pneumonia. ConclusionNasal continuous positive airway pressure was independently associated with a shorter duration of ventilatory support. Differences in baseline disease severity mandate a randomised trial before the routine use of NCPAP can be recommended.