Table 1. Comparison of characteristics of infants with RDS who failed treatment with ENCPAP (ECF) and matched infants who were intubated immediately after birth in the delivery room (DRI).
| Characteristic | Group ECF n = 25 | Group DRI n = 50 | Univariate analysis (P) |
| BW, g | 1393±379 | 1261±395 | NS |
| GA, wk | 29.7±1.6 | 29.1±1.6 | NS |
| Gender, male n (%) | 9 (36) | 27 (54) | NS |
| Umbilical arterial pH | 7.28±0.13 | 7.22±0.13 | NS |
| Prenatal steroids, n (%) | 17 (68) | 33 (66) | NS |
| Chorioamnionitis, n (%) | 2 (8) | 5 (10) | NS |
| PPROM, n (%) | 6 (24) | 15 (30) | NS |
| Toxaemia, n (%) | 6 (24) | 16 (32) | NS |
| Fetal distress, n (%) | 9 (36 ) | 18 (36) | NS |
| IUGR, n (%) | 4 (16) | 11 (22) | NS |
| Caesarean section, n (%) | 12 (48) | 24 (48) | NS |
| Apgar, 5 min<7, n (%) | 1 (4) | 10 (20) | NS |
| Singletons, n (%) | 13 (52) | 20 (40) | NS |
BW = birth weight; ENCPAP = early nasal continuous positive pressure; GA = gestational age; PPROM = preterm premature rupture of the membranes; IUGR = intra- uterine growth retardation.