ABSTRACT
Aim: To examine the impact of introducing and implementing the Vayu bubble continuous positive airway pressure (bCPAP) system on neonatal survival and neonatal respiratory outcomes in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in the Philippines. Methods: We compared clinical outcomes of 1,024 neonates before to 979 neonates after introduction of Vayu bCPAP systems into a NICU. The primary outcome was survival to discharge. Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Analyses were undertaken separately for the entire NICU population and for neonates who received any form of respiratory support. Results: The introduction of the Vayu bCPAP system was associated with (1) significant reductions in intubation (aOR: 0.75; 95% CI: 0.58-0.96) and in the use of nasal intermittent positive-pressure ventilation (NIPPV) (aOR: 0.69; 95% CI: 0.50-0.96) among the entire NICU population and (2) a significant increase in survival to discharge (aOR: 1.53; 95% CI: 1.09-2.17) and significant reductions in intubation (aOR: 0.52; 95% CI: 0.38-0.71), surfactant administration (aOR: 0.60; 95% CI: 0.40-0.89), NIPPV use (aOR: 0.52; 95% CI: 0.36-0.76), and a composite neonatal adverse outcome (aOR: 0.60; 95% CI: 0.42-0.84) among neonates who received any form of respiratory support. Conclusion: The use of the Vayu bCPAP system in a NICU in the Philippines resulted in significant improvement in neonatal respiratory outcomes.
