Impact of neonatal resuscitation changes on outcomes of very-low-birth-weight infants

So Jin Yoon1, Joohee Lim1, Jung Ho Han1

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 211 Eonjuro Gangnamgu, Seoul, 06273, Republic of Korea.

Scientific Reports
|April 27, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Delivery room resuscitation practices changed significantly for very-low-birth-weight infants. Updated guidelines and increased positive pressure ventilation (PPV) use correlated with reduced mortality and morbidities, highlighting the need for meticulous care in extreme prematurity.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatalogy
  • Perinatology
  • Pediatric Critical Care

Background:

  • Delivery room care significantly impacts neonatal outcomes, particularly for very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants.
  • The 2015 International Consensus guidelines aimed to improve neonatal resuscitation practices.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate trends in neonatal resuscitation practices from 2014 to 2017.
  • To analyze the association between resuscitation methods and neonatal outcomes in VLBW infants.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of 8142 VLBW infants from the Korean Neonatal Network (2014-2017).
  • Examined trends in intubation and positive pressure ventilation (PPV) rates.
  • Assessed the association of resuscitation levels with mortality and major morbidities.

Main Results:

  • A significant decrease in intubation rates and a marked increase in PPV were observed.
  • Higher levels of resuscitation were associated with increased risks of mortality, bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), and periventricular leukomalacia (PVL).
  • PPV and intubation showed reduced risks of mortality and morbidities compared to epinephrine use.

Conclusions:

  • Changes in resuscitation practices, aligned with updated guidelines, are associated with reduced mortality and morbidities in VLBW infants.
  • Increased use of PPV and appropriate intubation strategies are crucial.
  • Meticulous attention to delivery room resuscitation, especially for extremely premature infants, is essential for improving outcomes.

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