Nasopharyngeal Pressure Measurement During Neonatal Nasal Respiratory Support

Study Summary

This study will measure nasopharyngeal pressure in neonates using a miniature high resolution catheter-tip pressure transducer. Any neonatal intensive care patient being treated with nasal respiratory support (e.g., nasal continuous positive airway pressure, nasal cannula flow either high (\>1 LPM) or low (\<1 LPM), and nasal prong ventilation either intermittent mandatory or high-frequency) will be eligible for study. The catheter-tip transducer will be placed within a standard gavage feeding tube catheter and introduced through the mouth into the posterior nasopharynx where continuous measurements will be made over 15 minutes. The 15 minute recording will be divided into 5 three minute segments, including a baseline recording at the ordered settings of pressure or flow, a recording at 1 level above baseline, a recording back at baseline, a recording 1 level below baseline, and a final segment back at baseline. The order of increase-decrease or decrease-increase from baseline will be by random sequence. Measurements may be repeated with any change in nasal gas flow or pressure ordered for patient care. These measurements will be used to correlate the ordered nasal respiratory support therapy with the actual upper airway pressure created by the therapy.