Clinical use of pulmonary mechanics and waveform graphics

Decades of research have led to the understanding of neonatal pulmonary physiology and have influenced the clinical care that neonatologists provide to the sick newborn. Advances in microprocessor technology have allowed for clinical access of the research-based measurements of neonatal pulmonary functions. These evaluations are not only the integrated evaluation of the three primary vectors of respiration (driving pressure, air flow, and volume measured over time) but also values calculated by known physiologic equations. Clinical use of these data may not only be relevant and helpful in the bedside management, but also provides a uniquely objective and research-oriented data collection for individual newborns.