Optimal level of positive end-expiratory pressure during nasal continuous airway pressure for severe bronchiolitis: a prospective study

Introduction

As diagnosis and treatment of bronchiolitis has progressed, nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) has been increasingly applied in the pediatric setting. Due to its simplicity, low cost, easy operation, and minimal side effects, this method has become a primary treatment of severe bronchiolitis in recent years (1-3). In China, respiratory departments have demonstrated wide application and good clinical efficacy of nCPAP; however, some key problems have not been solved. There is no uniform standard for setting and titrating positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) level, which is paramount to the effectiveness of the treatment (4,5). This prospective study between December 2018 and February 2019, compared the clinical efficacy of nCPAP at various PEEP levels in the treatment of severe bronchiolitis; changes in the degree of airway obstruction and respiratory mechanics parameters were also assessed. This study aimed to establish an optimal PEEP for nCPAP and provide more evidence for the clinical application of nCPAP in severe bronchiolitis.

We present the following article in accordance with the STROBE reporting checklist (available at https://dx.doi.org/10.21037/tp-21-205).

Methods

Study subjects

Inclusion criteria for this study required that the participants: (I) were hospitalized children aged ≤1 year; (II) met the diagnostic criteria of bronchiolitis (6); (III) displayed tachypnea with three concave sign or flapping of nasal wings; or 50 mmH₂O ≤ PaCO₂ ≤60 cmH₂O or TcSO₂ ≤95% when oxygen by nasal catheter ≥5 L/min. Patients who met items 1 and 2, and displayed at least one of the clinical signs in item 3, were included.

Exclusion criteria for the study were: (I) chronic lung disease; (II) inherited metabolic diseases; (III) neuromuscular disorders with weakness of respiratory muscles; (IV) congenital heart disease with significant hemodynamic changes; (V) chest imaging has indicated pneumothorax before using ventilator; (VI) patients who had used invasive ventilation during the same hospitalization; (VII) hemodynamic instability; (VIII) acidosis with pH <7.2. Patients who met any of the above criteria were excluded.

All procedures performed in this study involving human participants were in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki (as revised in 2013). The study was approved by the institutional review board Children’s Hospital Chongqing Medical University (No. 056/2016) and written informed consent was obtained from all patients.

nCPAP (7) and grouping

All treatments were performed in the junior intensive care beds of our respiratory center. Clinical symptoms and infant pulmonary function were measured in all children with bronchiolitis by specialists in our center. The children who met the screening criteria were treated with unified drug treatment and nCPAP. Following application of nCPAP, the children were given necessary pacification, sedation and then placed with correct body position. Additionally, protection of the mucosa in contact with the tube, and maintenance of unobstructed airway, were given for the purpose of effective nCPAP.

Routine indicators such as respiratory rate (RR), heart rate (HR) and blood pressure were monitored. The patients were randomly divided into three groups: group 1 (PEEP: 4 cmH₂O), group 2 (PEEP: 6 cmH₂O), and group 3 (PEEP: 7 cmH₂O). The clinical manifestations of the children were assessed, and parameters of arterial blood gas analysis, pulmonary function and respiratory mechanics were measured. Chest X-rays were performed before and 12 hours after the nCPAP application to examine the occurrence of mucocutaneous injury. The noninvasive ventilation with different PEEP levels was all immediately stopped to invasive respiratory therapy through endotracheal intubation if the children developed the following symptoms: dyspnea; no remission or aggravation of respiratory muscle fatigue; PaO₂ ≤60 mmHg when PEEP >6 cmH₂O and FiO₂ ≥60%; increase of PaCO₂ in a short time after active airway management.

Noninvasive respiratory support equipment and parameter setting

The Stephanie CPAP-C neonatal ventilation system (Fritz Stephan GmbH, Germany) was used. The initial parameters were: oxygen concentration: ≤50%; PEEP: 4–10 cmH₂O; peak inspiratory pressure: 15–100 cmH₂O; FiO₂: 0.21–0.60 (on the basis of percutaneous oxygen saturation at 85–93%), RR: 20–60 breaths/min. The patients underwent ventilator weaning when RR ≤30 breaths/min, FiO₂ ≤40%, PEEP <4 cmH₂O, PaO₂ ≥70 mmHg and PaCO₂ <40 mmHg.

Determination of parameters of pulmonary function and respiratory mechanics

The MasterScreen BabyBody system (JAEGER, Germany) was used for lung function testing. Calibrations were performed prior to the examination. After sedation and checking the airway was unobstructed, participants were placed in the supine position with the mask firmly fitted over the mouth and nose to ensure no air leakage. Participants were measured before application of the nCPAP and 12 hours after application. Relevant parameters reflecting airway obstruction were also recorded, including inspiratory time (Ti), inspiratory time fraction (Ti/Ttot), ratio of time to peak tidal expiratory flow to total expiratory time (TPTEF/TE), and ratio of volume at peak tidal expiratory flow to expiratory tidal volume (VPTEF/VE) (8). Due to the age of the infants, passive respiratory mechanics parameters (9) were assessed, including static compliance of respiratory system (Crs), which reflected the elasticity of respiratory system (i.e., lung and chest wall), and resistance of respiratory system (Rrs), including the chest wall, lung tissue and respiratory tract.

Observation parameters

Baseline data and outcome measures included: age, gender, body weight, course of disease before utilization of the ventilator, RR, HR, body temperature, blood pressure, m-WCAS score, arterial blood gas analysis parameters (PaO₂, PaO₂/FiO₂, PaCO₂), pulmonary function parameters (tidal volume, TPTEF/TE, VPEF/VE), respiratory mechanics parameters (Crs, Rrs), duration of non-invasive respiratory support, incidence of pneumothorax, abdominal distension, and mucocutaneous injuries.

Statistical analysis

Statistical analysis was completed using the SPSS 18.0 statistical package. Measurement data were expressed as x¯±s, while enumeration data was expressed as percentage or ratio. Variance was used to compare measurement data. Enumeration data with normal distribution was compared using Chi-square test, while enumeration data with non-normal distribution was compared using Wilcoxon rank-sum test. Statistical significance was set at P<0.05.

Results

Clinical data

A total of 152 patients met the inclusion criteria, while a further 34 patients were excluded based on the exclusion criteria. Before application of nCPAP treatment, baseline patient data was collected. Baseline data was as follows: average age of onset 4.5±2.41 months; number of males: 95 cases; average body weight: 5.35±1.32 kg; RR: 64±2.15 breaths/min; HR: 158±5.44 bpm; average body temperature: 36.4±1.41 °C; average systolic blood pressure: 92±10.21 mmHg; average diastolic blood pressure: 54±8.16 mmHg; average onset time: 4.5±1.7 days. Pathogen detection revealed 101 respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) positive cases, 21 parainfluenza virus-3 (PIV-3) positive cases, and 23 positive cases for other viral pathogens. In addition, the leading combined bacterial infections was Haemophilus influenzae, which occurred in 15 cases.

There were no significant difference in age, gender, course of disease, RR, HR, blood pressure and RSV positive rate among the three groups (P>0.05) (Table 1). During nCPAP treatment, 8 patients were changed to invasive respiratory support, and the overall response rate of nCPAP was 95.04%. No patients developed pneumothorax, abdominal distension, or mucocutaneous injuries. Prior to nCPAP, chest imaging mostly showed strip and floc shadow in 147 cases, of which eight cases had segmental consolidation of the lung. The other five patients were changed to invasive respiratory support, three of whom were malnourished and two of whom had multi-segmental lung consolidation. The average hospital stay was 5.1±14 days, and the average treatment time of nCPAP treatment was 48±2.56 hours.

Table 1 Baseline characteristics
Full table

Comparison of parameters of clinical manifestation before and after nCPAP treatment

There is no uniform standard for assessing the severity of wheezing in pediatrics. At present, m-WCAS score (9) is the most common criteria used to quantitatively score respiratory symptoms (nodding respiration, three concave signs, flapping of nasal wings), pulmonary signs (especially wheezing sound), mental status, appetite, and other relevant indicators. This scale is is currently recognized as an objective clinical assessment method, and has been used in our study accordingly.

As shown in Table 2, there were significant differences in m-WCAS score, oxygen saturation, blood gas analysis parameters (PaO₂, PaCO₂, PaO₂/FiO₂), pulmonary function parameters (VT, TPTEF/TE, VPTEF/VE), and respiratory mechanics parameters (Crs/kg, Rrs) following nCPAP intervention (P<0.05). This result suggested that nCPAP level could significantly reduce tachypnea, increased HR, symptoms of hypoxia, and significantly improve respiratory mechanics.

Table 2 Comparison of parameters of clinical manifestation before and after nCPAP treatment
Full table

Comparison of hemodynamics, blood gas analysis and m-WCAS score between different PEEP levels after nCPAP treatment

No significant statistical differences were identified in PaO₂ and PaO₂/FiO₂ among the three groups after nCPAP treatment (all P<0.05) (Table 3). However, with the increase of PEEP, the patient oxygenation improved. A significant difference was found in PaCO₂ among the three groups after treatment (P<0.05), with the highest in the group 1 and the lowest in the group 2. This difference suggested that higher PEEP was more effective in correcting CO₂ to a certain point, after which increasing PEEP did not result in improved CO₂ levels. This finding may suggest when exogenous PEEP exceeded a certain level, it might lead to an increase in functional residual capacity in the body that is not conducive to CO₂ excretion. Moreover, it might even lead to a decrease in negative intrathoracic pressure and and an increase of pulmonary vascular resistance, potentially causing mechanical ventilation-related lung injury.

Table 3 Comparison of hemodynamics, blood gas analysis and m-WCAS score between different PEEP levels after nCPAP treatment
Full table

The m-WCAS score was significantly different among the three groups after treatment (P<0.05), with the lowest score in the group 2 and the highest in the group 3. This finding suggested that PEEP of 6 cmH₂O had the most marked clinical improvement and efficacy. Additionally, the systolic and diastolic blood pressures of the three groups remained within the normal range for all three groups, suggesting no significant effect on hemodynamics caused by nCPAP treatment at the prescribed PEEP levels. Diastolic blood pressure was significantly different between the three groups after treatment (P<0.05), with the highest in the group 3. The children in group 3 generally presented varying degrees of poor compliance, such as paroxysmal irritability and crying (approximately 87%). These results suggested that after a certain point, increasing PEEP level resulted in poorer efficacy and compliance with treatment.

Comparison of respiratory mechanics parameters between different PEEP levels after nCPAP treatment

Significant statistical differences were found in VT, TPTEF/TE, VPTEF/VE, Crs/kg, and Rrs between the three groups (all P<0.05) (Table 4). With increasing PEEP, VT progressively increased, while VPTEF/VE and TPTEF/TE—which are important indicators of airway obstruction, especially in small airways—did not increase. The change of VPTEF/VE was similar to that of TPTEF/TE. When PEEP level reached 6 cmH₂O, TPTEF/TE and VPTEF/VE increased most significantly, suggesting the greatest improvement in airway obstruction at this level. Rrs and Crs/kg—evaluation parameters of pulmonary static compliance—were improved most significantly in the group 2, suggesting that pulmonary static compliance improved most at this level, with decreasing airway resistance, reducing respiratory muscle energy consumption and optimising the respiratory mechanics.

Table 4 Comparison of respiratory mechanics parameters between different PEEP levels after nCPAP treatment
Full table

Discussion

Bronchiolitis is still regarded as one of the most common diseases in children aged under 2 years—in particular, in infants less than 6 months of age—causing the heaviest psychological and economic burden on families in the world (6,10). More than 15% of bronchiolitis cases are severe, and this is even higher in developing countries (11). The pathology of this disease is acute airway inflammation, mucosal edema, epithelial cell necrosis, increased mucus secretion, which result in bronchial stenosis and obstruction. Its main clinical signs include asthma, tachypnea, three concave signs, prolonged expiratory phase on auscultation, audible wheezing sound, and fine moist rales. Bronchiolitis causes obstruction of airways, especially small airways, thus increasing intrinsic PEEP. At present, the traditional treatment of bronchiolitis is based on symptomatic and supportive treatment such as oxygen therapy (1,4,11).

Numerous studies have shown that nCPAP was effective in overcoming intrinsic PEEP, reducing airway resistance, reducing airway collapse (especially terminal airways), reducing CO₂ retention, relieving respiratory muscle fatigue, as well as improving ventilation-blood flow ratio (6,12). nCPAP is conducted in children with spontaneous breathing as it is more consistent with the normal breathing cycle than invasive ventilation. Due to the advantages, nCPAP is being increasingly used in pediatric respiratory disease in the clinical setting; however, PEEP level settings vary considerably for different diseases. Previous research on PEEP has focused on clinical parameters such as patient comfort and blood gas analysis (3,13,14); however, there are few studies that investigated the differences of different PEEP levels in the clinic application (15,16)—especially prospective studies—and no such study has been conducted in China.

In this before-after prospective study, we compared the clinical efficacy of different PEEP levels. Blood gas analysis, pulmonary function parameters, and respiratory mechanics were assessed. The results showed that nCPAP treatment could effectively improve RR, pulmonary signs (especially wheezing sound), general condition (such as mental status and appetite), oxygenation, and correct CO₂ retention. This treatment also shortened hospital length of stay. Additionally, it was found that during nCPAP treatment, PEEP at 6 cmH₂O was the optimal level to improve clinical signs and symptoms (m-WCAS score), correct CO₂ retention (PaCO₂), improve oxygenation (PaO₂ and PaO₂/FiO₂), reduce small airway obstruction (TPTEF/TE and VPTEF/VE), reduce airway resistance, and improve lung compliance; however, increasing PEEP to 7 cmH₂Odid not appear to have a satisfactory effect on these parameters, with increased RR, tachypnea, crying, and even refusal to eat observed in this group.

As and the development of the management of severe bronchiolitis, nCPAP has been introduced into international treatment guidelines. Traditionally, PEEP level has been roughly estimated based on the improvement of the patient’s clinical symptoms and signs (17,18). Appropriate PEEP can reduce the pressure difference between the airway and alveoli in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, reduce inspiratory load and respiratory power consumption, and improve patient-ventilator synchrony. In this study, objective measures of pulmonary function and respiratory mechanics and subjective measures of clinical symptoms and signs were observed. Based on a series of parameters that reflect pathophysiological changes in respiratory disease, the optimal PEEP level was determined, providing parameters for evidence-based treatment of bronchiolitis.

Bronchiolitis usually affects infants under 1 year of age, and particularly affects those aged 2–6 months. The use of passive flow-volume (PFV) techniques could reveal respiratory diseases (for example, small airway lesions) in young children, especially airway obstructive lesions. Additionally, the technique of PFV can overcome poor respiratory compliance in infants and young children. PFV does not require patient cooperation and has good repeatability, which can provide objective indicators of volume, expiratory flow rate and thoracoabdominal movement during normal respiration, which can guide clinical practice. These indicators have been used to replace adult pulmonary function parameters such as FEV1/VC in the diagnosis and treatment of asthma in infants and young children (19). Different degrees of obstructive ventilatory disorder of the small airways are the main symptom observed in patients with acute bronchiolitis, and TPTEF/TE and VPTEF/VE provide a sensitive measure of changes in airway obstruction (20). In this study, TPTEF/TE and VPTEF/VE were significantly decreased in the acute phase and in more severe asthmatic symptoms; these two parameters then increased markedly after the improvement of obstruction. Additionally, we also found that compared with the other two levels, PEEP at 6 cmH₂O led to the most significant increase of TPTEF/TE and VPTEF/VE (P<0.05). Combined with the clinical symptom score, PaO₂, PaCO₂, we could suggest that airway obstruction is most significantly improved and the clinical efficacy is the most satisfactory when PEEP was at 6 cmH₂O.

Respiratory movement is a mechanical process which occurs under central regulation, whereby the respiratory muscles contract and relax to enable air inhalation and exhalation. Severe bronchiolitis causes airway mucosal edema, necrosis and shedding, as well as mucus secretion, resulting in airway obstruction, especially in the small airways. Consequently, respiratory muscle effort increases to overcome resistance, leading to significant abnormalities in respiratory mechanics. Therefore, the use of respiratory mechanics monitoring is crucial to guide the regulation mechanical ventilation parameters (21). PEEP could be adjusted on the basis of the pulmonary pressure-volume curve, for the optimal volume of tidal breathing. Due to the physiological characteristics of infants and young children and their poor active cooperation, static Crs can be used as a simple measure of respiratory mechanics to assist in assessing disease severity and monitoring changes in patient condition (22,23). Optimising PEEP level will achieve the greatest oxygen transport and lung compliance, while reducing dead space, in children during mechanical ventilation. At a PEEP level of 6 cmH₂O, Crs was found to be highest (2.15±1.23) and Rrs was at the lowest (0.021±0.013), suggesting that this PEEP level could maximize static compliance and minimize airway resistance. Therefore, it can be inferred that a PEEP level of 6 cmH₂O optimises respiratory mechanics with relatively low respiratory muscle effort.

While increasing PEEP level effectively improved oxygenation and reduced CO₂ retention, PaO₂ (96.25±7.24) at PEEP of 7 cmH₂O was not significantly increased compared with PaO₂ at 6 cmH₂O (96.25±7.24). Additionally, an excessive PEEP level did not necessarily obtain better therapeutic effect or respiratory mechanics, but could lead to increase airway resistance resulting in limiting CO₂ excretion and affecting normal spontaneous breathing. Therefore, at an excessive PEEP level, the children were prone to dysphoria, crying, decreased compliance, and even further CO₂ retention. Our findings were not consistent with the conclusion of Dadlez et al. (16), but were consistent with that of Hao et al. (15). This difference was considered to be related to different study sample size, observation and evaluation indicators.

This study has some limitations, including the measures used to assess respiratory mechanics. Further in-depth investigation could be carried out using additional respiratory mechanics measures such as esophageal pressures (Pes) and gastric pressures (Pga) (16,23).

In summary, nCPAP with a PEEP level of 6 cmH₂O showed the most optimal improvement in clinical symptoms, oxygenation, correction of CO₂ retention, airway obstruction, lung compliance and respiratory muscle effort in neonates with bronchiolitis. Therefore, 6 cmH₂O is suggested as optimal PEEP level in the clinical application of nCPAP treatment for severe bronchiolitis.

Acknowledgments

Funding: Medical research program of Chongqing Health and Family Planning Commission (2016MSXM034).

Footnote

Reporting Checklist: The authors have completed the STROBE reporting checklist. Available at https://dx.doi.org/10.21037/tp-21-205

Data Sharing Statement: Available at https://dx.doi.org/10.21037/tp-21-205

Conflicts of Interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at https://dx.doi.org/10.21037/tp-21-205). The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Ethical Statement: The authors are accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved. All procedures performed in this study involving human participants were in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki (as revised in 2013). The study was approved by the institutional review board Children’s Hospital Chongqing Medical University (No. 056/2016) and written informed consent was obtained from all patients.

Open Access Statement: This is an Open Access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0), which permits the non-commercial replication and distribution of the article with the strict proviso that no changes or edits are made and the original work is properly cited (including links to both the formal publication through the relevant DOI and the license). See: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/.

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(English Language Editor: M. Hawkins)