Neurally Adjusted Ventilatory Assist in Neonates: A Research Study

Reducing infant mortality in recent years is due to advances in care of neonates in the intensive care units (NICU), including the design of new ventilator devices in neonatal care. The application of mechanical ventilation devices is always associated with complications in all age groups including newborns. Several factors are involved in the development of pulmonary injuries and complications in neonates treated with mechanical ventilation. One of the most important factors involved in pulmonary injury is asynchrony during mechanical ventilation; the higher the asynchrony, the more the lung damage and the longer the mechanical ventilation time. Researchers always seek to use devices that have a greater synchrony, which quickly receive the infants` respiratory efforts and deliver the appropriate respiratory help at the same time that the patient breathes. Recently, using diaphragmatic electrodes, the activity of the diaphragmatic signal is transmitted to the ventilator. Then, a respiration is sent to the patient. By this mode- neurally adjusted ventilatory assist (NAVA) more synchrony respiratory support with the spontaneous efforts of patient are provided. In the current study, this mode was discussed in a few infants. It was tried to study the duration of hospitalization, the duration of oxygen therapy, the effects of oxygen therapy, and the complications of the respiratory system in this mode. It was concluded that NAVA provides more convenient ventilation with good results for neonates.