Home-made continuous positive airways pressure device may reduce mortality in neonates with respiratory distress in low-resource setting

J Trop Pediatr. 2014 Oct;60(5):343-7. doi: 10.1093/tropej/fmu023. Epub 2014 Apr 23.

Abstract

Objective: To study the effectiveness of locally assembled low-cost version for continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) delivery.

Patients: Babies with respiratory distress from two contiguous periods, one with CPAP therapy and the other without, were compared for following parameters: birth weight, gestational age, severity of respiratory distress, as assessed by Silverman-Anderson retraction score (SARS), maximum SARS, days taken for score to become 0, duration of oxygen therapy, hospital stay and the outcome.

Results: The profile of subjects was comparable in two groups. Severity of respiratory distress (SARS) was significantly higher in post-CPAP group. Time taken for SARS to become 0 and number of deaths were significantly lower, and the duration of oxygen administration and hospital stay were significantly higher in post-CPAP group. The cost of an individual disposable CPAP unit was ∼Rs 160 (USD 3).

Conclusion: A low-cost and locally assembled CPAP delivery system may reduce neonatal mortality among babies with respiratory distress.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Continuous Positive Airway Pressure / economics
  • Continuous Positive Airway Pressure / instrumentation*
  • Continuous Positive Airway Pressure / methods
  • Female
  • Gestational Age
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Length of Stay
  • Male
  • Oxygen Inhalation Therapy / instrumentation
  • Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / therapy*
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Treatment Outcome

Supplementary concepts

  • Respiratory Distress Syndrome In Premature Infants