PERINATAL TRIALS REPORT

PTO401

Randomised controlled trial of headbox oxygen versus CPAP for neonatal respiratory distress in non-teritary hospitals

Plain Language Summary:      

Many babies are born with respiratory distress and require care in a Special Care Nursery (SCN) such as that found at Gosford Hospital. Whilts most of these babies get better with oxygen and other routine supports a number have to be transferred to a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in Newcastle of Sydney. Such a transfer has a major impact on the health of the baby and on the family unit and incurs a significant cost.

Continuous Positive Airways Pressure (CPAP) is a method of supporting the baby's breathing through giving pressure into the baby's arway making breathing easier. CPAP is used in some NICU's in NSW and is also used in SCNs in New Zealand. CPAP has been introduced into New Zealand SCN's without any controlled studies being done on outcomes such as preventing transfer. As the use f CPAP is a nurse intensive one it is vital to prove that using CPAP in SCNs in beneficial in a clinically significant way.

Trial status:                                 Open to accrual

Date trial opened to accrual:        August 2002

Expected accrual period:             3 years

Trial Objective:

To investigate whether Continuous Positive Airways Pressue (CPAP) can be used to provide safe and effective respiratory support to newborn infants with respiratory distress who are being cared for in non-tertiary hospitals

Type of administration:        Multi- centre national

Principal Investigator/s:       

Dr Adam Buckmaster

Email agbuck@ozemail.com.au

Prof David Henderson-Smart

Email dhs@perinatal.usyd.edu.au

Contact Person/s:               

Jann Foster

Centre for Perinatal Health Service's Research

The University of Sydney

PO Box M40

CAMPERDOWN NSW 2050

© IMPACT/PSANZ 2001