Long term follow-up of a controversial trial of continuous negative extrathoracic pressure (CNEP) in newborn babies has shown no adverse outcomes, results published in the Lancet this week show (2006;367: 1080-5). The trial had resulted in an inquiry and prolonged suspension of the lead investigators.

The original study, carried out in the early 1990s, randomised newborn infants with respiratory distress syndrome to continuous negative extrathoracic pressure (pressure applied to the child's chest to help breathing) or standard treatment with supplemental oxygen or positive pressure ventilation, delivering pressurised air to the lungs. At the time, there was concern that positive pressure ventilation via an intratracheal tube might contribute to the high prevalence of chronic lung …