Local experience with the use of nasal bubble CPAP in infants with bronchiolitis admitted to a combined adult/paediatric intensive care unit.

Bronchiolitis is an acute inflammatory disease of the lower small airways predominantly occurring in infants younger than 1 year of age. As a result of the respiratory distress associated with bronchiolitis, infants frequently require admission to an intensive care unit for respiratory support. Thirty-five infants diagnosed with bronchiolitis were admitted to a combined adult/paediatric tertiary intensive care unit over a 2-year period for nasal bubble continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). Following this therapy, 20 (57.14%) of these infants could be transferred to the medical ward of the onsite paediatric hospital. The remainder required transfer to the national paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) for ongoing observation and/or positive pressure ventilation. Nasal bubble CPAP is a simple therapy that can be easily set up at the bedside. The use of nasal bubble CPAP enabled infants to remain in their geographical area, thus improving family visiting access and reducing the demand for paediatric beds in the national PICU.