When should Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) be considered for preterm babies?

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) is a supportive respiratory intervention primarily used for preterm infants who show signs of respiratory distress. The correct answer indicates that CPAP should be considered immediately if the baby is breathing spontaneously with a heart rate of at least 100 beats per minute.

This is based on the understanding that spontaneous breathing indicates that the infant has some capability to manage their own airway and ventilation. CPAP provides a certain level of positive pressure that helps to keep the alveoli open and encourages more efficient gas exchange, thus improving oxygenation and reducing the work of breathing. Effective use of CPAP at the onset of respiratory distress can prevent further deterioration and the need for more invasive interventions, such as intubation.

The approach of using CPAP in a spontaneously breathing infant supports the infant’s ability to breathe while also enhancing lung function without the complications associated with more invasive airway management techniques. By addressing respiratory needs promptly, CPAP can significantly improve outcomes in preterm infants with conditions like Respiratory Distress Syndrome, which is common in this population.

Other scenarios, such as the baby not breathing or having a heart rate below a certain threshold, require different interventions or prompt resuscitation measures instead of applying CPAP.