OBJECTIVE: This was a pilot study to determine the feasibility of using nasal high flow (nHF) (also known as heated humidified high-flow nasal cannula) for stabilisation of babies born at <30 weeks gestation in the delivery room (DR) and transfer to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). DESIGN: Observational study. SETTING: Single-centre NICU. PATIENTS: Infants born at <30 weeks gestation. INTERVENTIONS: Stabilisation and transfer to NICU using nHF. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Feasibility of stabilisation as defined by successful transfer and clinical measures of stability at admission to NICU including oxygen requirement, temperature, requirement for surfactant and inotrope use within 72 h of delivery. RESULTS: Twenty-eight babies were enrolled after written parental consent had been obtained. 25/28 were successfully stabilised in the DR and transferred to the NICU on nHF. The average admission temperature for babies transferred on nHF was 36.9°C and the average inspired oxygen at admission was 29%. Less than half (48%) required surfactant and 60% were still on nHF 72 h after admission. 1 baby received inotropes. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that using nHF for stabilisation of premature infants in the DR and subsequent transfer to NICU is feasible. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT01991886. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/
OBJECTIVE: This was a pilot study to determine the feasibility of using nasal high flow (nHF) (also known as heated humidified high-flow nasal cannula) for stabilisation of babies born at <30 weeks gestation in the delivery room (DR) and transfer to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). DESIGN: Observational study. SETTING: Single-centre NICU. PATIENTS: Infants born at <30 weeks gestation. INTERVENTIONS: Stabilisation and transfer to NICU using nHF. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Feasibility of stabilisation as defined by successful transfer and clinical measures of stability at admission to NICU including oxygen requirement, temperature, requirement for surfactant and inotrope use within 72 h of delivery. RESULTS: Twenty-eight babies were enrolled after written parental consent had been obtained. 25/28 were successfully stabilised in the DR and transferred to the NICU on nHF. The average admission temperature for babies transferred on nHF was 36.9°C and the average inspired oxygen at admission was 29%. Less than half (48%) required surfactant and 60% were still on nHF 72 h after admission. 1 baby received inotropes. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that using nHF for stabilisation of premature infants in the DR and subsequent transfer to NICU is feasible. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT01991886. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/