Comparison between Continuous positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) and High Flow Nasal Cannula (HFNC) in Management of Bronchiolitis and pneumonia in Infants and Young Children

Abstract

oninvasive ventilation (NIV) has become the optimal modality for initial respiratory support among children in respiratory distress. Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) refers to the delivery of mechanical ventilation to the lungs using techniques that do not require an invasive artificial airway (ETT, TT). Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and humidified high flow nasal cannula (HFNC) provides constant flow to maintain a target distending pressure to the lower airway (Oymar, 2015). Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is a type of positive airway pressure, where the air flow is introduced into the airways to maintain a continuous pressure to constantly open airway, in patients who are breathing spontaneously. Increased pressure in the airways also allows for better distribution of gases, which leads to an increase in alveolar pressure and re expansion of collapsed alveoli. High-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) is a technique for non-invasive respiratory support. It has been primarily developed for infants as an alternative to noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP)). Nowadays this technique is being used progressively throughout all pediatric age groups