CPAP ComparisonComparison of Two Methods of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) to Support Successful Extubation of Infants of Birth Weights ≤ 1500 Grams (C2CPAP)

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) has been used successfully to promote extubation in the premature infant population. The two methods of CPAP to be examined are currently used by many institutions, yet no study has compared these methods to determine which is better in the population of newborns < 1500 grams (birth weight) at supporting extubation. This randomised controlled study will examine two types of CPAP: the Infant Flow System and the Bubble CPAP. This randomised controlled, single site, clinical study is to determine whether the Bubble CPAP or the Infant Flow System (IFS) CPAP is more effective at supporting the extubation in infants of birth weights < 1500 grams. Seventy-six infants will be randomised, immediately prior to extubation, to IFS or Bubble CPAP of 5 cmH2O. The primary outcome is successful extubation, defined as not reaching failure criteria for the 7 days post-extubation. Failure criteria are defined as pH < 7.25 and PCO2 > 65 mmHg or a sustained increase in FiO2 of 0.15.