Effect of Changing Levels of Neurally Adjusted Ventilatory Assist (NAVA) in Newborns

"A titration protocol will be used for changing NAVA levels. The NAVA level will be reduced to 0,5 cmH2O/µV for 3 minutes as a starting point. Limit peak pressure will be set to 35cmH2O (i.e. according to the standard manufacturer's settings) the maximum pressure that can be delivered to the patient is cut off at 30cmH2O). Other ventilator settings will be left unchanged and are as clinically indicated. Ventilator settings will be according to our standard of care and as following: PEEP between 4 and 7 mmHg, apnea time 2-5 sec, back-up ventilation with a pressure above PEEP between 5 and 15 mmHg and a frequency between 30 and 50 per minute.~Starting from a NAVA level of 0,5 cmH20/µV the level will be increased by 0,5 cmH2O/µV every 3 minutes until reaching a maximum NAVA level of 4,0 cmH2O/µV."