Q: We have a lot of infants who are never intubated, but on Nasal CPAP from the get go. It's just pure old-fashioned CPAP, no IMV. Does Nasal CPAP alone qualify as intubated assisted ventilation in the Big Baby Selection Criteria?
A: No, Nasal CPAP alone is NOT defined as intubated assisted ventilation in the CPQCC Network Database. Therefore, Nasal CPAP alone is not considered as intubated assisted ventilation in the Big Baby Selection Criteria.
Q: How should we apply the inclusion criteria for Nasal IMV/SIMV (or any other form of non-intubated assisted ventilation) for > 4 continuous hours?
A: A Small Baby will qualify regardless of whether it had Nasal IMV/SIMV (or any other form of non-intubated assisted ventilation) or not.
If the infant is a Big Baby, then the infant MUST be on Nasal IMV/SIMV (or any other form of non-intubated assisted ventilation) for > four continuous hours to qualify for the NICU database. In addition, if a Big Baby infant is on CPAP with a back-up rate for > 4 continuous hours, then this infant also qualifies for the NICU database. However, you would NOT record the hours for either Nasal IMV/SIMV or CPAP with a back-up rate in calculating the duration of the initial episode of intubated assisted ventilation.