Comparison of the effectiveness between Bubble CPAP and Conventional CPAP in preterm newborns in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A systematic review

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.62827/fb.v27i2.1142

Keywords:

Premature; Noninvasive Ventilation; Neonatal Intensive Care Units.

Abstract

Introduction: Preterm newborns frequently require care in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and respiratory support, such as conventional continuous continuous airway pressure (CCPAP) and bubble continuous airway pressure (BCPAP), used to assist respiratory function. Objective: This study described the results and efficacy of bubble CPAP versus conventional CPAP in the treatment of preterm newborns (PTNBs) in the NICU. Methods: This is a systematic review conducted according to the PRISMA method, with searches in the PubMed, Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), Latin American and Caribbean Literature (LILACS), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), EMBASE, and Virtual Health Library (VHL) databases. Descriptors related to CPAP and preterm newborns were used. Methodological quality was assessed using the PEDro scale. Results: Of the 860 articles identified, 9 studies with a PEDro score greater than 7 were included, totaling 937 PTNBs. In 55.5% of the studies, BCPAP showed better results compared to CCPAP, with fewer complications and shorter hospital stays. In the remaining studies, the results were similar between the methods. Conclusion: The findings indicate that BCPAP may offer clinical advantages, associated with its simplicity, lower cost, and reduction of complications, although some of the literature demonstrates equivalent efficacy between the two devices. In most of the studies analyzed, BCPAP proved more advantageous than VCPAP in the treatment of preterm newborns in neonatal intensive care units.

Author Biographies

  • Cibelle Luiza Oliveira , UFG - Federal University of Goiás

    A full-time student in the Physiotherapy program at the Federal University of Goiás (UFG), currently in her 8th semester. She participated as a scholarship recipient in the Education through Work for Health Program (PET-Saúde) between 2022-2023 and in the 11th edition of PET-Saúde (2024-present) as a volunteer. She is a founding member of AKSEL, a Junior Physiotherapy Company, where she holds the position of business marketing manager. She was a member of the board of directors of the Academic League of Cardiovascular and Respiratory Physiotherapy (LAFCARE-UFG) from 2023 to 2025, and participated as an active member of the Academic League of Multisport Physiotherapy (LAFIME-UFG) from 2024-2025. She participated in the research project entitled "Functional evaluation of children and adolescents with asthma," which took place in the outpatient clinics of the Hospital das Clínicas of the Federal University of Goiás (HC/UFG), thus collaborating in the performance of spirometry exams and functional tests. She also participated as a member of the Pronto Sorriso project in 2024, with the aim of offering greater humanization to children undergoing medical treatment within the HC.

  • Altafico Fernandes de Oliveira, UFG - Federal University of Goiás

    Full-time undergraduate student in Physiotherapy at the Federal University of Goiás (UFG). He is the student representative on the Self-Assessment Committee (CPA/UFG), contributing to the continuous improvement of the institution's academic quality. He served as Director of Extension and Marketing for the Academic League of Multisport Physiotherapy (LAFiME/UFG) between 2023 and 2025. He was coordinator of the UFG Physiotherapy Academic Center from 2022 to 2024, actively participating in student representation. He is a member of the Study Group in Traumatology-Orthopedics and Sports Physiotherapy (GFOrTE) and participates in the extension project "Sports Physiotherapy Clinic" (AmFE/UFG), which offers specialized physiotherapy services for the rehabilitation of athletes from various sports residing in Goiânia (GO). He also works as a monitor for the subjects of Kinesiology and Physiotherapeutic Resources II, assisting in theoretical and practical activities aimed at the academic and scientific training of students. He completed his high school education integrated with the Technical Course in Agriculture at the Federal Institute of Tocantins (IFTO), between 2014 and 2016.

  • Clóvis Henrique de Melo Siqueira, UFG - Federal University of Goiás

    Discente do Curso de Fisioterapia da Universidade Federal de Goiás (UFG), Goiânia, GO, Brasil

  • Mariana Balduino Aguiar, UFG - Federal University of Goiás

    She holds a degree in Physiotherapy from Paulista University (2020), a specialization in neonatal and pediatric physiotherapy (2023), a specialization in ABA Intervention applied to Autism Spectrum Disorder (2024), and is currently pursuing a master's degree in Physical Education at UFG. She is the Technical Manager of physiotherapy at the Célia Câmara Municipal Maternity Hospital and a tenured professor in the physiotherapy undergraduate program at Faculdade Alves Faria.

  • Dra. Natasha Yumi Matsunaga , Federal University of Goiás (UFG)

    Adjunct Professor in the Physiotherapy Course at the Department of Functional Health of the Institute of Tropical Pathology and Collective Health (IPTSP) of the Federal University of Goiás (UFG). Physiotherapist graduated from the Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro - UFTM (2011). Holds a Lato Sensu Postgraduate Degree - Specialization/Improvement in Pediatric Physiotherapy from the State University of Campinas - UNICAMP (2012-2013). Master of Science, with a concentration in Child and Adolescent Health from UNICAMP (2015). PhD in Science from UNICAMP (2019). Permanent faculty member of the Stricto-Sensu Postgraduate Program in Physical Education at the Faculty of Physical Education and Dance (FEFD) of UFG. Permanent faculty member of the Stricto-Sensu Postgraduate Program in Health Assistance and Evaluation at the Faculty of Pharmacy (FF) of UFG. Collaborating professor in the Pediatric Pulmonology Medical Residency Program of the Department of Pediatrics and Childcare at the Faculty of Medicine of UFG (Federal University of Goiás). Vice-coordinator of the Physiotherapy Course at UFG. Coordinator of the Academic League of Cardiovascular and Respiratory Physiotherapy (LAFCARE) at UFG. Leader of the Interdisciplinary Research Group in Neonatology, Child Pulmonary Health and Rehabilitation (INSPIRE). Researcher at the Pediatric Asthma, Cystic Fibrosis and Rare Diseases Outpatient Clinic of the Hospital das Clínicas of UFG. Researcher at the Laboratory of Inventive Studies in Assistive Technologies (LabEITA) at UFG. Has experience in coordinating postgraduate programs in the area of ​​Cardiorespiratory Physiotherapy and Neonatal, Pediatric and Adult Intensive Care. Has an interest in the areas of Respiratory Physiotherapy, Cardiovascular Physiotherapy and Neonatal, Pediatric and Adult Intensive Care Units, in addition to Pediatric Cardiorespiratory Physiotherapy; Physiotherapy in Rare Diseases; Physiotherapy in Neuromuscular Diseases; Rehabilitation in Covid-19; Pediatric Pulmonology; Cardiorespiratory Tests; Pulmonary Function Tests; Research Methodology and Biostatistics

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Published

2026-03-26

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Vol. 27 No. 2 (2026): Fisioterapia Brasil v27n2

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Copyright (c) 2026 Cibelle Luiza Oliveira , Altafico Fernandes de Oliveira, Clóvis Henrique de Melo Siqueira, Mariana Balduino Aguiar, Natasha Yumi Matsunaga (Autor)

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How to Cite

Comparison of the effectiveness between Bubble CPAP and Conventional CPAP in preterm newborns in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A systematic review. (2026). Fisioterapia Brasil, 27(2), 3199-3210. https://doi.org/10.62827/fb.v27i2.1142