Nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) for term neonates with respiratory distress

This is the protocol for a review and there is no abstract. The objectives are as follows: To determine whether nCPAP as the primary modality of treatment is effective and safe for treating respiratory distress in the term neonate (≥ 37 weeks gestation). We will explore potential sources of clinical heterogeneity through the following a priori subgroup analysis: Age of infant at randomisation (< 6 hours, 6 to 12 hours, > 12 hours to 24 hours) Setting (neonatal intensive care unit; non-tertiary special care nursery) Level of continuing distending pressure used (≤ 5 cm H ₂0; ≥ 6 cm H ₂0) Types of nCPAP (via continuous flow e.g. bubble nCPAP; variable flow nCPAP e.g. Infant Flow Driver) Delivery system (nasal cannulae (short); nasal cannulae (long); nasal mask) Method of oxygen delivery (ambient oxygen (crib, headbox); low-flow nasal cannulae; high-flow nasal cannulae) Method of birth (caesarean section; vaginal delivery) Reason for respiratory distress (e.g. hyaline membrane disease; transient tachypnoea of the newborn; bacterial pneumonia; meconium aspiration syndrome; persistent pulmonary hypertension). Sensitivity analysis.