[A case report of successful treatment of a child with respiratory distress using non-invasive continuous positive airway pressure via helmet].

Helmet is a new device of non-invasive continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). Few cases have been described about usage of the helmet in children. We describe successful treatment of a child with respiratory distress using the helmet-delivered non-invasive CPAP. A 2-month-old male infant (3.1 kg) with multiple anomalies (cardiovascular, facial, and vertebral) developed respiratory distress after extubation. The helmet was well tolerated regardless of facial anomaly. Helmet CPAP started at initial settings of CPAP 8 cm H2O and FI(O2) 0.7, improved oxygenation. Pa(O2)/FI(O2) ratio increased from 106 to 316, and chest X-rays showed a marked improvement (15 hour after NPPV initiation). The helmet offers important advantage: the possibility of fitting to any children, regardless of any facial or external anomalies.