Neurally Adjusted Ventilatory Assist for Noninvasive Support in Neonates.

Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) is frequently used in the NICU to avoid intubation or as postextubation support for spontaneously breathing infants experiencing respiratory distress. Neurally adjusted ventilatory assist (NAVA) is used as a mode of noninvasive support in which both the timing and degree of ventilatory assist are controlled by the patient. NIV-NAVA has been successfully used clinically in neonates as a mode of ventilation to prevent intubation, allow early extubation, and as a novel way to deliver nasal continuous positive airway pressure.