Changes in resuscitation practice at birth

To investigate secular changes in neonatal resuscitation at birth.

Single centre observational study of 17 890 infants born between May 1993 and April 1997. T-piece ventilation was introduced in April 1995.

Rates and modes of ventilatory resuscitation, early neonatal encephalopathy, neonatal convulsions, and meconium aspiration syndrome; 1 and 5 min Apgar scores; maternal age and method of delivery; paediatric attendance at delivery and resuscitation.

The rate of all forms of ventilatory resuscitation fell during the four year period from 11.0% to 8.9%. The rate of intubation fell from 2.4% to 1.2%. A reduced rate of intubation was seen at all gestations of 30 weeks and above. There was no difference in rates of relevant neonatal problems during the period except for a reduction in neonatal convulsions. The introduction of T-piece ventilation did not contribute to the reduction in intubation in a logistic regression model that included time trend.

A marked reduction in the rate of intubation was observed, without any reduction in the efficacy of resuscitation. This may reflect improvements and changing emphasis in resuscitation training.