Course Description

Supporting Tiny Lungs: Optimizing CPAP Therapy reviews how continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) supports the developing lungs of preterm infants. Presented by Carolyn La Vita, MHA, RRT, RRT-ACCS, RRT-NPS, this activity covers the neonatal physiology that places preterm infants at risk for bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), how CPAP helps protect the lungs from injury, and what current evidence shows about occlusive and nonocclusive CPAP interfaces.

Participants will see how evidence from a CPAP practice change can be translated into bedside decision-making, with an emphasis on effective pressure delivery and lung protection in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this activity, participants will be able to:

• Explain neonatal physiology, bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) development, and the role of CPAP in lung protection.
• Compare occlusive and nonocclusive CPAP interfaces using current evidence.
• Apply clinical insights from a CPAP practice change to bedside decision-making.