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Updated: May 25, 2026
08:58
Development of a Neonatal Piglet Acute Lung Injury Model Recreating the Early Environment of Preterm Infant Lungs
Published on: October 31, 2025
Alveolar recruitment in the delivery room
G Lista1, F Castoldi, F Cavigioli
1Division of Neonatology, V Buzzi Children's Hospital, ICP, Milan, Italy. g.lista@icp.mi.it
Summary
Most preterm infants require respiratory support at birth. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) aids lung stabilization, but the efficacy and safety of sustained lung inflation (SLI) require further study.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Resuscitation
- Pediatric Respiratory Medicine
- Perinatal Care
Background:
- Preterm infants (<23-27 weeks gestational age) often need respiratory support in the delivery room (DR).
- Ventilation aims to establish functional residual capacity (FRC), facilitate gas exchange, and minimize lung injury.
- Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) helps stabilize lung volume from the first breaths.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy and safety of sustained lung inflation (SLI) at birth for preterm infants.
- To determine the effects of SLI on oxygenation and hemodynamics in this population.
- To highlight the need for respiratory function monitoring during neonatal resuscitation.
Main Methods:
- Review of preliminary studies on sustained lung inflation (SLI) in preterm infants.
- Analysis of reported effects on heart rate and oxygen saturation.
- Discussion of challenges in designing and conducting large clinical trials in the delivery room.
Main Results:
- Preliminary studies suggest SLI may improve heart rate and oxygen saturation.
- The precise effects of SLI on oxygenation and hemodynamics remain undetermined.
- Respiratory function monitoring is desirable for optimizing resuscitation maneuvers.
Conclusions:
- Sustained lung inflation (SLI) shows potential but requires further rigorous evaluation.
- Large-scale clinical trials in the delivery room are necessary but challenging.
- Gentle and adequate resuscitation requires careful monitoring of respiratory function in preterm neonates.
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