Randomized Trial of Nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure or Synchronized Nasal Ventilation in Premature Infants.

Very premature infants uniformly do not have mature functioning lungs to breathe well nor mature regulation mechanisms to breathe regularly. Assistance with a mechanical respirator is common. However, prolonged use of a respirator can itself cause long-term complications. Furthermore, commonly used drugs to improve the regularity of breathing may have long-term consequence only recently recognized. This study will compare two different types of assistance using a nasally applied breathing assist device. The aim is to see which type of assistance is best at avoiding the need for both prolonged respirator use and drugs to regulate breathing.