Table 3.
Baseline characteristics of the study participants
| Variable* | BP-NCPAP (N = 67) |
NCPAP (N = 69) |
P value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gestational age (weeks) [Mean (SD)] | 27.3 ± 1.9 | 27.4 ± 1.7 | 0.60 |
| Birth weight (grams) [Mean (SD)] | 901 ± 200 | 896 ± 156 | 0.86 |
| Male [N (%)] | 39 (58%) | 31 (44%) | 0.13 |
| Apgar score (1 minute) [Median (IQR)] | 5 (3, 7) | 5 (2, 7) | 0.56 |
| Apgar score (5 minutes) [Median (IQR)] | 8 (7, 9) | 8 (7, 9) | 0.63 |
| Mode of ventilation [N (%)] | |||
| IPPV | 50 (75%) | 51 (74%) | 0.85 |
| HFOV | 14 (21%) | 16 (23%) | |
| HFJV | 3 (4%) | 2 (3%) | |
| Age at first extubation (days) [Median (IQR)] | 3 (1-67) | 3 (1-62) | 0.85 |
| Time of blood gas prior to extubation (hours) [Median (IQR)] | 9 (5, 14) | 7 (5, 12) | 0.15 |
| Blood gas prior to extubation [Mean (SD)] | |||
| pH | 7.3 ± 0.1 | 7.3 ± 0.1 | 0.12 |
| PCO2 | 47.1 ± 11.0 | 48.5 ± 10.9 | 0.48 |
| FiO2 [Mean (SD)] | 0.24 ± 0.06 | 0.26 ± 0.08 | 0.40 |
| Fulfilled preset extubation criteria [N (%)] | 47 (70%) | 55 (80%) | 0.20 |
| Accidental extubation in infants who did not meet preset extubation criteria [N (%)] | 6 (9%) | 7 (10%) | 0.98 |
| Surfactant administration [N (%)] | 61 (91%) | 66 (96%) | 0.32 |
| Caffeine administration [N (%)] | 65 (97%) | 64 (92%) | 0.44 |
*FiO2 = Fraction of inspired oxygen, HFJV = High frequency jet ventilation, HFOV = High frequency oscillatory ventilation, IPPV = Intermittent positive pressure ventilation, IQR = Inter-quartile range, N = Number, % = Percent, SD = Standard deviation