Healthcare Professionals

The Opportunities Of Bubble CPAP Usage in Neonatology

The Opportunities Of Bubble CPAP Usage in Neonatology

Bubble CPAP has become widespread in the neonatal area. This advanced system provides efficient and safe ventilation for newborns. Today it is used all over the world and is not limited to use exclusively in the neonatal period. Let’s find out more about the beneficial opportunities it opens up in the medical field.

What Is the Need in Bubble CPAP?

Children who were born prematurely and have a slowdown in development need to restore respiratory processes to saturate the body with oxygen. Bubble CPAP is a system that offers non-invasive breathing support for children. Children born prematurely often suffer from such a problem as Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS). This is because there is not enough surfactant in the lungs of newborns. This substance is responsible for the smooth expansion and contraction of the lungs. In the absence of this substance, breathing becomes difficult. Such a system as CPAP is just created to eliminate this problem in newborn children. The bubble CPAP system consists of such main components as:
  • Gas source. An oxygen blender is used to supply inhaled oxygen. This mixer is connected to a source of oxygen and compressed air. The humidified and mixed oxygen begins to circulate through the corrugated tube.
  • Pressure generator. The system is pressurized by placing the distal expiratory tube in water. The pressure is determined using the length of the immersed tube.
  • Patient interface. Nasal prongs are the nasal interface between the circuit and the infant’s airway. The cannulas provide low resistance to airflow. It is important to make sure that there is no air leakage to avoid nasal injury and to reduce the effectiveness of the system.

The Key Physiological Benefits of bubble CPAP

  • Facilitating the breathing process in newborns.
  • Minimization of trauma and subsequent biotrauma in comparison with mechanical ventilation.
  • The most gentle respiratory support exerts low but effective pressure on the newborn’s lungs.
  • The ability to combine the process of using the bCPAP system with Kangaroo care.
  • The ability to start feeding at 34 weeks with the physiological stability of the newborn.
Since the bCPAP is a breathing support system and maintains a constant positive pressure in the child’s breathing systems, it requires careful attention. It is vital to make sure that the system works continuously and correctly. Bubble CPAP

How to Use Bubble CPAP Safely?

Compliance with the Bubble CPAP setup rules is key in the successful treatment. It is necessary to carry out an aspiration for the first three days, with an interval of 2-3 hours a day. That is, it is necessary to ensure the process every 2-3 hours, and then it is recommended to increase the time interval from 2-3 hours to 3-4 hours. At the same time, it is important to monitor the child’s health in order to determine the subsequent need for using the system. As for the key rules, the doctors should keep in mind and strictly follow the next ones:
  • Use the nasal prongs according to the required size.
  • Guide the catheter down to the hypopharynx to ensure that secretions or clots are aspirated.
  • Use a superficial suction if the nasal passages are inflamed or bleeding.
  • Conduct an analysis of the obtained secretions. It is necessary to conduct an examination of the secretions in order to exclude pathologies or infectious diseases.

Take Care of Nasal Prong

  • It is necessary to adjust the size of the prongs by gradually relaxing and widening the nasal openings.
  • It is necessary to examine the nasal septum every 3-4 hours.
  • The nurse should ensure compliance with the bCPAP checklist every three hours.

Rules to Check to Avoid CPAP Failure

  • Make sure the baby is in the correct position. The head of the bed should be raised at least 30 degrees. The neck roll should be in the right place. The head should be slightly falling back.
  • The respiratory tubes must be correctly attached to the prongs.
  • Make sure the nasal cannulas fit snugly against the nasal openings. Make sure there is no need to use larger prongs.
  • Check the infant’s nose and remove excess secretions or clots.

For How Long Bubble CPAP Should Be Used?

There is no one-fit-all recommendation for how long it will take time for treatment. The duration of treatment is determined by special factors that physicians must determine. This will help to detect the optimal treatment scheme and its duration. Below are two main factors:
  • Doctors always take into account the child’s age. Namely, the actual date of birth and the planned one. These findings are key, as the baby may have problems with development compared to infants that were born on time.
  • The weight of the child is also taken into account. There are certain respiratory markers that will help to detect the need in the duration of the system use.
The term of use CPAP is always set by doctors based on a clear protocol of action. Practice shows that each case is unique and therefore one infant may need more time to recover, while another child may need cancellation after a short course of treatment.

The Need In Specialized Education

Despite the ease of use of this system, medical personnel must be fully aware of all aspects of using Bubble CPAP. There are some rules for both CPAP use and during the check of the child’s condition. Improper use of the system can injure the infant’s sinuses and result in ineffective treatment. The neonatal center should receive specialized training in the use of the bCPAP system, as it can be effective in treating many conditions that require respiratory support. In addition to the usual indications for use of bCPAP, this system can be used to treat older children, especially when resources are limited. With this system, the following diseases can be treated after the neonatal period:
  • pneumonia, both viral and bacterial.
  • bronchiolitis.
  • pneumonitis.
  • heart disease with the need for respiratory support.
  • other respiratory problems of mild to moderate severity.

Final Words

The Circuit setup is a must-stop solution in many clinical situations. Personnel should be appropriately trained in the use of the equipment in order not to be limited to the use of the system exclusively in the neonatal period. Especially with limited resources, this can be a real solution for the effective treatment of children after the neonatal period.

Start exploring our learning modules in bCPAP.

The Bubble CPAP Institute is an interactive educational platform aiming to make the knowledge and skill set of Bubble CPAP accessible to practitioners who care for neonates and young infants across the globe. This platform will primarily focus on the know-how and will offer educational modules on issues like when to consider bCPAP in managing infants with respiratory distress, how to assemble the bCPAP circuits, how to apply the nasal interface and how to troubleshoot bedside issues.

Read modules