Bubble Nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (bNCPAP): An Effective Low-Cost Intervention for Resource-Constrained Settings

Table 2

Comparison of CPAP interfaces.

Interface	Advantages	Disadvantages	Remarks
Nasal prongs	Simple device	Easily get dislodged from the nose	Examples include Argyle, Hudson, Infant Flow Driver (IFD), and INCA prongs
	Lower resistance leads to greater transmission of pressure	Risk of trauma to nasal septum and turbinates
	Mouth leak acts like a “pop-off” mechanism	Variable end expiration pressure due to nares-prong air leaks
Nasal mask	Minimal risk of nasal trauma	Difficulty in obtaining an adequate seal
	More effective in preventing intubation and mechanical ventilation
Nasal cannula	Easy to apply	Unreliable pressure delivery	Cannula with outer diameter of 3 mm and flows up to 2 L/min can be used to treat apnea of prematurity
	Well tolerated	May need high flows to generate pressure if only oxygen is used (without air blender)
		Delivered FiO2 may be high
		Large air leaks around the cannulae
Nasopharyngeal tube	Easily available	Easily blocked by secretions	A cut endotracheal tube may be used.
	Economical	Likely to kink	The length is estimated by measuring the distance from the ear lobe to the tip of the chin or nose.
	More secure fixation		Confirm tube placement by visualizing its tip behind the uvula.

References [29, 49, 53, 54].