Pharyngeal pressure with high-flow nasal cannulae in premature infants.

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to measure pharyngeal pressures in preterm infants receiving high-flow nasal cannulae.Study designA total of 18 infants were studied (median gestational age 34 weeks, weight 1.619 kg). A catheter-tip pressure transducer was introduced into the nasopharynx. Flow was sequentially increased to a maximum of 8 l min(-1) and decreased to a minimum of 2 l min(-1).ResultThere was a strong association between pharyngeal pressure and both flow rate and infant weight (P