Nasal Intermittent Positive Pressure Ventilation in Premature Infants (NIPPV)

The machines and oxygen used to help very premature babies breathe can have side-effects, such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Infants with BPD get more complications (a higher death rate, a longer time in intensive care and on assisted ventilation, more hospital readmissions in the first year of life, and more learning problems) than infants who do not develop BPD. Doctors try to remove the tube in the wind-pipe that links the baby to the breathing machine as soon as possible. However, small babies get tired, and still require help to breathe. One of the standard and common techniques to help them breathe without a tube in the wind-pipe is to use simple pressure support, nasal continuous positive airway pressure or nCPAP. This supports breathing a little, but it is often not enough to prevent the need to go back on the breathing machine. Nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) is similar to nCPAP, but also gives some breaths, or extra support, to babies through a small tube in the nose. NIPPV is safe and effective, and already in use as an alternate "standard" therapy. The main research question: After being weaned from the breathing machine, is NIPPV better than nCPAP in preventing BPD in premature babies weighing 999 grams or less at birth?