【Abstract】 Objective To study the clinical effect of Neurally Adjusted Ventilatory Assist (NAVA) on respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in preterm infants, and analyze the effects of neurological regulation on the parameters of blood gas and respiratory mechanics. Methods 88 children with RDS were enrolled in the intensive care unit of our hospital from March 2015 to April 2017. The children were divided into observation group and control group according to the random number table method. The observation group was given NAVA mode line assisted ventilation. The control group was given synchronous intermittent command ventilation (SIMV) mode line assisted ventilation. After treatment, the blood gas, respiratory mechanics parameters and the incidence of complications were observed. Results The inspiratory delay time of the observation group was significantly shorter than that of the control group (P <005). The levels of arterial blood pH, SpO2, PaO2, PaCO2 and PaO2 / FiO2 after treatment were significantly better than those before treatment (P <005), but there was no significant difference between the two groups (P＞ 005). The improvement of respiratory mechanics parameters such as RR, MAP, PIP, EAdi peak, EAdi valley, MVi, VTi and WOB after treatment were significantly better than those before treatment (P <005). The parameters of diaphragmatic electrical activity, RR, PIP and WOB in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P <005). There was no significant difference in the incidence of complications between the two groups (P＞ 005). Conclusion In the treatment of RDS in preterm infants, NAVA ventilation mode can effectively shorten the trigger delay, achieve the same gas exchange with lower airway pressure, and reduce the diaphragm load, reduce airway peak pressure and breathe work and not increase the incidence of complications.