Symposium: intensive careAdvanced respiratory support on the paediatric ward

The ability to provide additional respiratory support previously restricted to intensive care units or to specialised units is now extended to many paediatric wards. When provided in designated areas by trained staff, treatments like High Flow Nasal Cannula Oxygen (HHFNC), Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) and Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure (BiPAP) can be delivered effectively locally and may prevent the transfer of some children to intensive care units for noninvasive ventilation. This article provides a brief overview of the causes of respiratory compromise and outlines the basic principles of the different techniques available and provides pointers towards effective administration of these techniques.