Influence of three nasal continuous positive airway pressure devices on breathing pattern in preterm infants.

The pattern of breathing was studied in 13 premature newborns treated by variable-flow Nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (NCPAP), conventional NCPAP, and nasal cannulae. Compared to constant-flow NCPAP and nasal cannulae, the variable-flow NCPAP increases tidal volume and improves thoraco-abdominal synchrony, suggesting that variable-flow NCPAP provides more effective ventilatory support than conventional NCPAP or nasal cannulae.