Measurements from preterm infants to guide face mask size

Area of Science:

• Neonatal care
• Pediatric respiratory support
• Medical device engineering

Background:

• International guidelines recommend specific face mask sizing for neonatal positive pressure ventilation.
• Proper mask fit is crucial to avoid covering eyes or overlapping the chin.
• Current mask sizes may not adequately accommodate the facial dimensions of preterm infants.

Purpose of the Study:

• To measure the facial dimensions of preterm infants.
• To compare these measurements with the external diameters of commonly available face masks (35mm, 42mm, and 50mm).
• To determine appropriate mask sizing for effective neonatal respiratory support.

Main Methods:

• Photographic analysis of infants aged 24-33 weeks postmenstrual age (PMA).
• Utilized ImageJ software to calculate facial length from nasofrontal groove to mental protuberance.
• Collected data from 107 infants (347 photographs) within 72 hours of birth and weekly thereafter.

Main Results:

• Facial measurements varied by PMA, with mean lengths ranging from 32mm (24 weeks) to 43mm (32 weeks).
• No significant differences were observed based on gender or small for gestational age status.
• Standard mask sizes were found to be larger than the facial dimensions of many preterm infants.

Conclusions:

• The smallest available face masks (35mm and 42mm) are more appropriate for preterm infants than larger sizes.
• 35mm masks are suitable for infants <29 weeks PMA or <1000g.
• 42mm masks are suitable for infants 27-33 weeks PMA or 750-2500g.