Nasal non-invasive ventilation (Nasal NIV) is a ventilatory support mode that provides positive pressure to patients via a nasal cannula or mask. Continuous positive pressure can be delivered using several treatment modalities, most commonly by Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) or Bi-level Positive Airway Pressure (BPAP). NIV has been shown to be an effective means of providing respiratory support in the acute care setting to prevent endotracheal intubation [1]. More recently, the use of Nasal NIV has been associated with improved outcomes in the neonatal intensive care unit [2, 3]. Furthermore, Nasal NIV using a RAM Cannula [Neotech] interface (Nasal NIV/RAM Cannula) has been shown to decrease the need for endotracheal intubation in neonates after acute respiratory failure [4]. Depending of the underline pulmonary pathophysiology of the disease, patients may require a long-term respiratory support. Available options to provide outpatient minimal positive pressure support in children is limited. Nasal NIV/ RAM Cannula may be a feasible and save long-term respiratory support for outpatient.

The concept of RAM Cannula was first introduced as a Nasal NIV device in 2011 for infants in the neonatal intensive care unit. Although initially created for oxygen delivery, ex vivo experiments and published data with neonates intensive unit demonstrated that RAM Cannula has the potential to improve patient tidal volume, decrease work of breathing and improve ventilation and oxygenation facilitating extubation [5, 6]. When compared to the traditional nasal cannula, the RAM Cannula is made of a more flexible, softer material with thinner walled nasal prongs. Due to the increased diameter of the inner nasal prongs in the RAM Cannula, a decrease in airflow resistance is allowed when compared to a traditional nasal cannula. Studies evaluating the delivery of positive pressure using a RAM Cannula in a lung simulator have shown that with proper fitting of prongs in relation to the patient nasal diameter, around 60-70% of the positive pressure can be transmitted across the interface [5]. The opportunity to provide positive pressure ventilation with the RAM Cannula may be a useful characteristic for patient with chronic respiratory diseases requiring long term respiratory support.

Depending on the underlying pulmonary pathophysiology, patients may require positive pressure for long-term management. At this time, the availability of Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) interfaces that can be used in the outpatient setting is limited to BPAP or CPAP with either a traditional nasal or full-face mask. These approaches can restrict the use of positive pressure delivery devices in the pediatric outpatient setting due to several factors including: patient age, weight, proper fit of mask, patient intolerance and comfort with the interface, facial irritation, mid-face hypoplasia and skin breakdowns [7, 8]. RAM cannula may be an alternative interface to address most current pediatric concerns with traditional interfaces.

Some patients require minimal positive pressure for respiratory support secondary to obstructive and restrictive lung disease, chest wall weakness or due to a poor central control respiratory drive. Those patients with chronic respiratory failure may benefit from the use of Nasal NIV/RAM Cannula in the outpatient setting as an alternative for respiratory support. Our goal is to describe and discuss the feasibility of Nasal NIV/RAM Cannula in children with chronic respiratory failure.

A retrospective case series of 18 medical records were reviewed to identify patients on Nasal NIV/RAM Cannula [Neotech] at the outpatient pediatric pulmonary and High Risk Children clinics of the McGovern Medical School at UTHealth located in Houston, Texas. The UTHealth Institutional Review Boards approved the data collection and analysis for the Protection of Human Subjects. Collected information included patient demographics, clinical diagnoses, Nasal NIV/RAM Cannula mode of ventilation with parameters, blood carbon dioxide levels (PaCO₂), oxygen saturation (SO₂), associated complications and related side effects. Data was obtained from the electronic medical records for a time frame of two years (2014-2016). Pediatric patients between 0 to 21 years old on Nasal NIV/RAM Cannula were included. Patient using other interfaces for respiratory support rather than RAM Cannula were excluded.

NIV is an essential tool in providing positive pressure ventilation to children with chronic respiratory failure in the home setting. Limited literature has been published about the use of RAM cannula as a NIV alternative. This study explores the incorporation of new technologies to provide respiratory support and introduces the idea of potential applications of Nasal NIV/RAM Cannula in a selected group of pediatric patients who have complex respiratory lung diseases. As previously described, the RAM Cannula has successfully been used to reduce the number of extubation failures in the neonatal intensive care(2). Patients with chronic respiratory failure requiring long term positive pressure ventilation, may also be able take advantage of Nasal NIV/RAM Cannula as a home respiratory support device.

Currently, options for pediatric patients who require outpatient long-term mechanical ventilation with NIV are limited to nasal or full-face mask. The most common cause of pediatric non-compliance with NIV is intolerability of facial or nasal mask. Due to intolerability, patients have to resort to invasive interventions that include a tracheostomy as the next step. It is known that tracheitis, tracheal decannulation and airway granulomas are some of the disadvantages of a long-term tracheostomy and add additional medical complications and morbidity to the child’s long-term care.

Nasal NIV/RAM Cannula may also play a role in the outpatient weaning of respiratory support initiated in the hospital. Some patients require minimal support (HFNC on minimal support, CPAP or BPAP). Unfortunately hospital devices such as HFNC are only approved in the inpatient setting. Due to patient safety concerns, and lack of portability, devices such as HFNC are not viable options for long-term respiratory support in children. Additionally, the long-term use of conventional nasal and full-face mask in pediatric patients has been associated with an increased risk of aspiration, impairment of facial bone development, skin breakdown and infections [7, 8]. We found Nasal NIV/RAM Cannula to be an effective device decreasing PCO₂ in 18 complex care children with chronic respiratory failure from age 4 months to 19 years old. Nasal NIV/RAM Cannula provided a gentle interface that is capable of delivering positive pressure (BPAP, CPAP, SMIV-PC) and decrease hypercapnea with minimal complications in the home setting.

We understand that comfort at the end of life is important for both the patient and the family. Avoidance of traditional CPAP/BPAP interfaces that can potentially create skin abrasions, facial pressure ulcers, and perceived discomfort may help decrease the stress associated with a chronic illness. Nasal NIV/RAM Cannula is a potential option to avoid seemingly uncomfortable NIV or tracheostomy and its associated complications. Nasal NIV/RAM Cannula could possibly serve as an alternative home respiratory support in patients who are receiving compassionate end of life care.

Nasal NIV/RAM Cannula may be an additional consideration in the algorithm before considering tracheostomy in medically complex children. Although our cohort was limited to 18 patients, our experience validates the feasibility of Nasal NIV/RAM Cannula as an alternative to conventional forms of NIV, which may be poorly tolerated. Additionally, avoidance of tracheal cannula placement is ideal, as it would prevent the additional morbidity, mortality, and long-term consequences associated with tracheostomies. This study explored and found minimal side effects with no significant major complications or mortality with Nasal NIV/RAM Cannula over a period of two years. Additionally, patients demonstrated good tolerability of the device as reported by caretakers. We found Nasal NIV/RAM Cannula to be a viable option to consider when managing long-term positive pressure ventilation in children with complex pulmonary disease.

Our study has some limitations. The power of the sample is small secondary to the quantity of patients currently using this specific technology. A larger study with additional subjects is needed to confirm our findings. Also, the average length of use of the Nasal NIV/RAM Cannula in our cohort was limited to 8.4 months. It is possible that long-term complications and potential side effects may arise after long-term use.

Use of Nasal NIV/RAM Cannula in the outpatient setting may prove to be beneficial for patients with chronic respiratory failure. Further studies are required to evaluate long-term outcomes, complications, morbidity and mortality in medically complex, technology dependent children.