nCPAP-NAVA-Backup Versus Standard nCPAP for Severe Apnea in Preterm Infants ≤28 Weeks (NAVAPNEA)

November 3, 2026 updated by: Dimitra Papasavva, University Hospital, Geneva

Effect of nCPAP-NAVA-backup Mode Versus Standard nCPAP Mode on the Reduction of Severe Apnea in Preterm Infants ≤ 28 Weeks - a Crossover Trial

The goal of this clinical trial is to determine whether nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) with neurally adjusted ventilatory assist (NAVA) backup ventilation (nCPAP-NAVA-backup mode) reduces the rate of severe apnea in extremely preterm infants ≤28 weeks' gestation compared with standard nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP mode). Severe apnea episodes is defined as breathing pause with oxygen levels ( SpO2) below 85% lasting at least 5 seconds and/or heart rate (HR) below 100 beats/minute lasting at least 5 seconds.

Each participant will receive both interventions in a randomized order, serving as their own control. The total duration of the intervention will be 24h. Each intervention period will last 12 hours. A washout period of 3 hours will be included between intervention periods to minimize potential carryover effects.

Randomized sequences to avoid order effects:

  • Sequence A: nCPAP mode → nCPAP-NAVA-backup mode
  • Sequence B: nCPAP-NAVA-backup mode →nCPAP mode

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

25

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child
  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Born at ≤28 weeks gestational age
  • Currently receiving nCPAP mode as part of routine care
  • Receiving caffeine citrate at a maintenance dose of 10 mg/kg/day
  • An average of ≥1 severe apnea per hour over a 6-hour period (apnea associated with SpO₂<85% during ≥ 5 seconds and/or HR <100 bpm during ≥ 5 seconds) or an average of >2 severe apnea per hour over a 2-hour period
  • Written informed consent obtained from the legal representatives before inclusion.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Major congenital anomalies (e.g., congenital diaphragmatic hernia, significant cardiac malformations)
  • Known genetic syndrome affecting respiratory function
  • Immediate indication for endotracheal intubation or noninvasive ventilation (NIV)
  • Parental refusal or withdrawal of consent
  • Previous inclusion in the study

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Sequence A: nCPAP then nCPAP-NAVA-Backup

Preterm infants randomized to receive 12 hours of standard nCPAP mode followed by 12 hours of nCPAP-NAVA-backup mode (total 24 hours) on a Servo-n ventilator. A 3-hour washout period at the start of each period is excluded from analysis.
Device: nCPAP-NAVA-backup mode

Standard nasal CPAP delivered via a Servo-n ventilator, with continuous monitoring of the electrical activity of the diaphragm (Edi) through an Edi catheter that also serves as the feeding tube. When an apnea exceeds the preset apnea time, pressure-controlled backup ventilation is triggered automatically. Backup and PEEP settings follow unit standards, and PEEP is kept constant throughout the study. Duration: 12 hours.

Device: nCPAP mode

Standard nasal CPAP delivered via nasal prongs or mask on the same Servo-n ventilator and circuit, with PEEP and FiO₂ managed according to standard clinical practice. Duration: 12 hours.
Experimental: Sequence B: nCPAP-NAVA-backup then nCPAP

Preterm infants randomized to receive 12 hours of nCPAP-NAVA-backup mode followed by 12 hours of standard nCPAP mode (total 24 hours) on a Servo-n ventilator. A 3-hour washout period at the start of each period is excluded from analysis.
Device: nCPAP-NAVA-backup mode

Standard nasal CPAP delivered via a Servo-n ventilator, with continuous monitoring of the electrical activity of the diaphragm (Edi) through an Edi catheter that also serves as the feeding tube. When an apnea exceeds the preset apnea time, pressure-controlled backup ventilation is triggered automatically. Backup and PEEP settings follow unit standards, and PEEP is kept constant throughout the study. Duration: 12 hours.

Device: nCPAP mode

Standard nasal CPAP delivered via nasal prongs or mask on the same Servo-n ventilator and circuit, with PEEP and FiO₂ managed according to standard clinical practice. Duration: 12 hours.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Number of severe apnea episodes per 9-hour observation period
Time Frame: Per 9-hour observation period

Number of severe apnea episodes per 9-hour observation period, defined as an apnea associated with oxygen desaturation (SpO₂ < 85%) lasting ≥ 5 seconds and/or bradycardia (Heart rate (HR) < 100 bpm) lasting ≥ 5 seconds
Per 9-hour observation period

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Number of isolated oxygen desaturation episodes
Time Frame: Per 9-hour observation period

SpO₂ < 85% for ≥ 5 seconds, not associated with a severe apnea episode
Per 9-hour observation period
Number of isolated bradycardia episodes
Time Frame: per 9-hour observation period

HR < 100 bpm for ≥ 5 seconds, not associated with a severe apnea episode
per 9-hour observation period
Number of hyperoxia episodes (SpO₂ > 94% for ≥ 5 seconds)
Time Frame: per 9-hour observation period
per 9-hour observation period
Percentage of time spent with SpO₂ < 85%
Time Frame: per 9-hour observation period
per 9-hour observation period
Percentage of time spent with SpO₂ > 94%
Time Frame: per 9-hour observation period
per 9-hour observation period
Percentage of time spent with HR < 100 bpm
Time Frame: per 9-hour observation period
per 9-hour observation period
Number of apnea episodes requiring nurse intervention
Time Frame: per 9-hour observation period

tactile stimulation and/or increase in FiO₂
per 9-hour observation period
Need for escalation of respiratory support during the observation period
Time Frame: per 9-hour observation period

Defined as requirement for transition to non-invasive ventilation mode or endotracheal intubation
per 9-hour observation period
Infant comfort assessed using the EDIN score (Échelle Douleur Inconfort Nouveau-Né)
Time Frame: per 9-hour observation period

EDIN will be recorded every 3 hours (0-15), yielding up to 3 measurements per 9-hour observation period. The mean EDIN score over each observation period will be used
per 9-hour observation period
Gastrointestinal tolerance
Time Frame: per 9-hour observation period

Grade 1: good tolerance - enteral feeding maintained at prescribed volume with no significant gastric residuals ; Grade 2: moderate intolerance - enteral feeding volume reduced due to gastric residuals or clinical concern ;Grade 3: poor tolerance - enteral feeding discontinued with initiation of continuous gastric suctioning. The worst grade recorded during each 9-hour observation period will be used as the summary measure for analysis.
per 9-hour observation period

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

University Hospital, Geneva

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

December 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

December 1, 2028

Study Completion (Estimated)

December 1, 2028

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

October 28, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

November 3, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

November 6, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

November 6, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

November 3, 2026

Last Verified

November 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 2026-00663
  • HumRes (Other Identifier: Human research in Switzerland)

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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