[Guidelines for resuscitation of newborn infants]

This article presents the new guidelines for resuscitation of the newborn from the European Resuscitation Council. It is estimated that, potentially, 800,000 newborns can be saved each year by simple airways manoeuvres. Personnel trained in basic resuscitation should be present at all deliveries and personnel trained in advanced resuscitation at deliveries with known risk factors. Attention to ventilation is of primary importance. Ventilation should be assisted if stimulation does not achieve a prompt onset of spontaneous respiration and/or the heart rate is less than 100 per minute. Chest compressions--1/3 of the anteroposterior diameter of the chest--should be provided if the heart rate is absent or remains < below 60 per minute despite adequate assisted ventilation for 30 seconds. Chest compressions should be coordinated with ventilation at a ratio of 3:1 and a rate of 120 "events" per minute to achieve approximately 90 compressions and 30 rescue breaths per minute. Adrenalin should be given if the heart rate remains below 60 per minute despite 30 seconds of effective ventilation and chest compression.