Open Lung Strategy During Non-Invasive Respiratory Support of Very Preterm Infants in the Delivery Room

The opening and aeration of the lung is critical for a successful transition from fetal to neonatal life. Early nasal CPAP in the delivery room in spontaneously breathing premature babies with a gestational age of 30 weeks or less is a standard treatment approach since it reduces the need for invasive mechanical ventilation and surfactant therapy. In respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) management, providing optimal lung volumes in the very early period from the beginning of delivery room approaches probably augments the expected lung protective effect. Although the benefits of CPAP support are well known, standart CPAP pressures recommended in the guidelines may not meet the needs of individual babies. Maintaining lung patency in the delivery room is the main mechanism of action of CPAP and the requirement may vary individually depending on lung physiology. In this multicenter randomized controlled study, we aimed to compare the effects of CPAP therapy applied with a personalized open lung strategy (openCPAP), and standard CPAP therapy (standardCPAP) on oxygenation, respiratory support need and surfactant treatment requirement in preterm babies with RDS in the delivery room.