Neurally adjusted ventilatory assist: a new approach to mechanically ventilated infants

Abstract

Neurally adjusted ventilator assist (NAVA) is a new mode of partial ventilatory support, in which neural inspiratory activity is monitored through the continuous esophageal recording of the electrical activity of the diaphragm. Assistance is triggered and cycled off in according to this signal and is delivered in proportion to its intensity. NAVA can improve patient-ventilator synchrony while maintaining spontaneous breathing. Small preliminary studies have shown that NAVA can be successfully used also in term and preterm infants, being safe and well tolerated. However, much additional work is still needed before NAVA can be recommended in the everyday practice of the neonatologist.

Keywords:

• Mechanical ventilation
• neonate
• neurally adjusted ventilatory assist
• diaphragm

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.