Premature infants born at <25 weeks of gestation may be compromised by currently recommended resuscitation techniques
Abstract
AimStandard resuscitation guidelines are based on data from a range of gestational ages. We sought to evaluate the effectiveness of our delivery room resuscitation protocol across a range of gestational ages in preterm infants born at 70%, >80% and >90% (p<0.03).
They required significantly more interventions and had higher rate of death (p<0.05) and severe intraventricular haemorrhage (p<0.03). Significantly lower heart rate and oxygen saturation values were found in infants with intraventricular haemorrhage.
ConclusionCurrent recommendations for resuscitation may fail to achieve timely lung aeration in infants born at the borderline of viability, leading to higher mortality and morbidity. Sustained inflation and delayed cord clamping may be effective alternatives.