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Background: A respiratory function monitor (RFM) gives immediate feedback, allowing clinicians to adjust face mask ventilation to correct leak or inappropriate tidal volumes. We audited the satisfaction of clinicians with a neonatal resuscitation training package, incorporating a novel RFM. Methods: This was a mixed-methods study conducted at The Royal Women’s Hospital, Melbourne, Australia. Clinicians were approached to complete a neonatal resuscitation training session. Participants watched a training video, then provided ventilation to term and preterm manikins first without, and then with, the RFM. Clinicians completed a survey after the session and undertook a follow-up session three months later. The primary outcome was participant satisfaction with the RFM. Secondary outcomes included participants’ self-assessment of face mask leak and tidal volumes when using the RFM. Results: Fifty clinicians completed both the initial and follow-up session. Participants reported high levels of satisfaction with the RFM for both term and preterm manikins: on a scale from 0, meaning “not at all”, and 100, meaning “yes, for all resuscitations”, the median response (interquartile range, IQR) was 82 (74–94) vs 81.5 (69–94.5). Levels of satisfaction were similar for less experienced and more experienced clinicians: median (IQR) 83 (77–93) vs 81 (71.5–95) respectively. When using the monitor, clinicians accurately self-assessed that they achieved leak below 30% and tidal volumes within the target range at least 80% of the time. Conclusion: Clinicians of all experience levels had a high level of satisfaction with a training package including a novel RFM.

Objective: To retrieve evolving respiratory measures in the first minutes after birth in normal neonates born at term using a respiratory function monitor. Study design: We evaluated newborn babies delivered at term via cesarean after uncomplicated pregnancies. Immediately after birth, a respiratory function monitor with an adapted flowmeter and a face mask were applied at 2, 5, and 10 minutes after birth for 90 seconds in each period. We analyzed expired and inspired tidal volume, respiratory rate (RR), percentage of leakage, and number of analyzed breaths in each individual infant's recording using a respiratory research software. Results: A total of 243 infants completed the study. The final data set included 59 058 (48.35%) valid observations for each of the variables representing the analysis of 32 801 breaths. With these data, we constructed a reference range with 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th percentiles for expired tidal volume and RR. Tidal volumes plateaued earlier in female than in male infants. No correlation with delayed cord clamping, gestational age, maternal morbidity, or indication for cesarean delivery were established. Conclusions: We have constructed a reference range with percentiles for inspired and expired tidal volumes and RR in newborn babies born at term for the first 10 minutes after birth. Reference ranges can be employed for research and can be useful in the clinical setting to guide positive pressure ventilation in the delivery room.

Infants <28 weeks' gestation in need of inflations at birth were recorded with Respiratory Function Monitor. Two devices were used for resuscitation. Peak Inspiratory Pressure spikes were visible in all inflations with GE Panda and in none with Neo-Puff. There was no significant difference in mean Vte/kg between GE Panda and Neo-Puff., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest All authors have no conflict of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Less invasive surfactant administration (LISA) on the neonatal unit reduces the need for mechanical ventilation and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD)., Aims: To assess the immediate and longer-term efficacy of LISA to prematurely born infants in the delivery-room., Study Design: A case control study with inborn historical controls matched for gestational age, birthweight and gender to each LISA infant., Subjects: Infants born between 26 +0 weeks and 34 +6 weeks of gestational age., Outcome Measures: Respiratory function monitoring before and after LISA and need for mechanical ventilation within 72 h of birth., Results: Ninety-nine infants, median gestational age of 32 +4 (range:27 +0 -34 +6 ) weeks, were prospectively recruited. The respiratory rate and inspired oxygen (FiO 2 ) decreased two minutes after LISA and there was a reduction in the FiO 2 requirement at two hours post birth. Compared to historical controls, LISA administration was associated with a reduction in the need for mechanical ventilation within 72 h after birth (20.2% versus 56.6% p < 0.001) the incidence of moderate to severe BPD (8.2% versus 20.2%, p = 0.02) and the median costs of neonatal intensive care stay (£1218 versus £2436, p = 0.03) and total neonatal unit stay (£12,888 versus £17,240, p = 0.04). A high FiO 2 in the delivery-room pre-LISA (median 0.75 versus 0.60, p = 0.02) was associated with LISA failure, that is mechanical ventilation within 72 h of birth., Conclusions: LISA to prematurely born infants in the delivery-room was associated with reductions in the need for mechanical ventilation and costs of care, but was less successful in those with initial, more severe respiratory disease., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Fetal to neonatal transition after birth is a complex, well-coordinated process involving multiple organ systems. Any significant derangement in this process increases the risk of death and other adverse outcomes, underlying the importance of continuous monitoring to promptly detect and correct these derangements by effective resuscitative support. In recent years, there has been increasing efforts to move from subjective and discontinuous monitoring to more objective and continuous monitoring of different physiological parameters. Some of them like pulse oximetry for arterial oxygen saturation and electrocardiography for heart rate monitoring are now part of resuscitation guidelines whereas others like respiratory function monitoring, near infrared spectroscopy, or amplitude integrated electroencephalography are being evaluated. In this review, we describe some of the physiological parameters that can be monitored during delivery room emergencies and review the evidence for some of the monitoring technologies currently being evaluated., (© 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)