Early continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) has proven to be beneficial in reducing ventilator dependence and subsequent chronic lung disease in neonates suffering from Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). However, the efficacy of initiating labour room (LR) CPAP has not been determined prospectively in resource limited settings like India. Hence the objective of the present study was to study the efficacy of LR CPAP in preterm neonates with RDS in resource limited Indian settings. This was a prospective observational study including preterm neonates (26-34 weeks with RDS) carried out over a period of 6 months (January to June 2016) when the CPAP was initiated in LR. The outcome was compared with a similar population during the corresponding period of the previous year when CPAP was initiated in NICU. The historical controls were retrieved from case records and matched for gestational age and birth weight with the study population. There was 36% absolute risk reduction in the need for surfactant and 56% for mechanical ventilation in the LR CPAP group respectively. LR CPAP reduces the need for mechanical ventilation and surfactant in preterm neonates with RDS in resource limited settings.
Keywords: CPAP; Labour room; Preterm neonates..