A review of non-invasive ventilation support in neonates

Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) is a mode of respiratory support commonly used on the neonatal unit. Since the advent of NIV, it has evolved from being used as a mode of respiratory support to wean infants from mechanical ventilation (MV) to a primary mode of respiratory support. Newer methods of NIV support such as nasal bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP) and humidified high flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy (HHFNC) have emerged in attempts to reduce intubation rates and subsequent MV in preterm infants. There is ongoing debate about the role of nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) in reducing ventilator induced lung injury, its timing and use as a primary mode of ventilation in the very low birth weight and extreme preterm infants.This review gives an overview of the current understanding and practices of the different modes of NIV in the neonatal unit.