Invasive and noninvasive neonatal mechanical ventilation

Neonatal respiratory failure consists of several different disease entities, with different pathophysiologies. During the past 30 years technological advances have drastically altered both the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to newborns requiring mechanical assistance. Treatments have become both patient- and disease-specific. The clinician has numerous choices among the noninvasive and invasive ventilatory treatments that are currently in use. This article reviews the pathophysiology of respiratory failure in the newborn and the available methods to treat it, including continuous positive airway pressure, conventional and high-frequency mechanical ventilation, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and styles of ventilation and monitoring.