Use of Vapotherm for respiratory support with neonates

Neonatal units in the UK are beginning to use Vapotherm as a means of providing respiratory support. This device reportedly allows the delivery of high flows of gas at body temperature with close to 100 per cent relative humidity. Evidence from the literature and from UK neonatal units suggests that Vapotherm may be an effective and well-tolerated method of providing babies with respiratory support. It has a number of advantages over therapies such as nasal continuous positive airway pressure, including a reduction in the number of ventilator days and reduced nasal trauma. It is reported to be better tolerated than other forms of non-invasive respiratory therapy. There is some evidence to show that weight gain is improved on Vapotherm and that oral feeding can be introduced earlier. Further research is required, especially into the methods of weaning Vapotherm and, as with all neonatal treatments, the long-term effects.