Detection of CardioRespiratory Events Using Acoustic Monitoring in Preterm Infants on Continuous Positive Airway Pressure: the DREAM Pilot Project
This is an observational, proof-of-concept, feasibility study where 50 preterm infants with gestational age \< 32+0 weeks will be recruited from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at the Montreal Children's Hospital. The study's primary objective is to describe the relationship between respiratory acoustics and airflow and determine the reliability of a novel respiratory acoustic sensor at detecting breathing sounds in preterm infants. The study's secondary objectives are: 1. To compare transthoracic impedance, respiratory inductive plethysmography and an inertial measurement unit for the detection of respiratory efforts in preterm infants. 2. To evaluate the feasibility and accuracy of a novel, non-invasive method for continuously detecting and differentiating cardiorespiratory events in preterm infants on CPAP by integrating measurements of respiratory effort with respiratory acoustic monitoring.
• Gestational age \< 32+0 weeks
• Postmenstrual age between 28+0 and 36+6 weeks.
⁃ Additional inclusion criteria for Groups 1 and 2:
• Off any respiratory support and breathing in-room air
• Less than 3 clinically significant cardiorespiratory events per calendar day
⁃ Additional inclusion criteria for Group 3:
• On the bubble CPAP device with the binasal prongs interface
• Receiving CPAP levels of 5 to 7 cm H2O with gas flows not exceeding 10L/min
• At least 3 clinically significant cardiorespiratory events per calendar day