Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics of study participants
| Preterm (n=26 infants and 33 intubation episodes) | Term (n=17 infants 17 intubation episodes) | |||
| High flow 6 L/fraction of inspired oxygen 1.0 (n=12) | Standard care (n=14) | High flow 6 L/fraction of inspired oxygen 1.0 (n=7) | Standard care (n=10) | |
| Median gestational age at birth (weeks) | 26.3 (24.3–29.4) | 26.9 (24.3–30.6) | 38.9 (35.6–41.0) | 38.8 (37.0–41.0) |
| Corrected gestational age at intubation (weeks) | 26.9 (25.6–28.6) | 28.6 (25.1–30.7) | 38.9 (35.6–41.0) | 38.8 (37.0–41.0) |
| Median birth weight (g) | 805 (690–1130) | 878 (730–1310) | 3090 (2965–4155) | 3728 (2975–3950) |
| Median weight at intubation (g) | 870 (690–1130) | 875 (660–1310) | 3090 (2965–4155) | 3728 (2975–3950) |
| Delivery by caesarean section, n (%) | 10 (83) | 12 (85) | 5 (71) | 6 (60) |
| Antenatal steroids given, n (%) | 8 (75) | 10 (72) | 1 (14) | 0 (0) |
| Full course (≥2 doses), n (%) | 5 (42) | 7 (50) | 1 (14) | 0 (0) |
| Female, n (%) | 6 (50) | 8 (57) | 3 (42) | 3 (30) |
| Respiratory support before procedure (n=50) | ||||
| CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) | 14 | 13 | 6 | 8 |
| BiPAP (Bi-level Positive Airway Pressure) | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Intermittent PPV for apnoea | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Mortality by day 28 following randomisation, n (%) | 3 (25) | 4 (28.5) | 0 (0) | 1 (10) |
| Fraction of inspired oxygen before randomisation | 0.4 (0.4–0.7) | 0.4 (0.32–0.55) | 0.40 (0.38–0.66) | 0.5 (0.3–0.6) |
| Peripheral oxygen saturation immediately before procedure | 97% (94–99) | 97% (94–99) | 97% (93.5–98.0) | 100% (95.5–100) |
| Laryngoscope used video/direct | 3/12 | 6/12 | 2/5 | 3/7 |