Reference values for the electrical activity of the diaphragm in neonates for use in neurally adjusted ventilation.

Neurally Adjusted Ventilatory Assist (NAVA) is a new ventilatory technique in neonates to aid babies with respiratory distress. It uses the baby's diaphragmatic electrical activity as a trigger for each breath. This electrical activity is measured using a special nasogastric tube (Edi catheter) with electrodes at the level of the diaphragm. To date, there is a little data on the Edi signal in neonates with no existing respiratory conditions and on no respiratory support. By gaining a reference Edi data range, clinicians will be better equipped to titrate NAVA levels in ventilated neonates. We hypothesise that Edi peak and Edi min were higher in (1) Higher gestational age group, (2) awake and postprandial states and (3) after caffeine administration (caffeine is only administered to those infants using the medication as part of their hospital treatment).