Ventilatory Management of the Preterm Neonate in the Delivery Room

After oropharyngeal and nasal suctioning, if there are no signs of spontaneous breathing or breathing is insufficient and/or heart rate is below 100 bpm, the following approach will be followed:Pressure-controlled (20 cm H2O) inflation will be sustained for 15 secs, using a neonatal mask and a T-piece ventilator (NeoPuff Infant Resuscitator; Fisher \& Paykel).To avoid pressure leakage, we will use a neonatal mask of appropriate size which adequately cover both the mouth and nostrils of infants. This pressure controlled inflation will be followed by CPAP at 5 Cm H2O.This procedure will be repeated a second time with a pressure of 25 cm H2O for 15 secs if breathing remained insufficient and/or the heart rate is \< 100 bpm and/or the infant is cyanotic. To be followed by CPAP at 6 Cm H2O.A third puff with a pressure of 30 cm H2O for 15 secs will be used after few seconds if inadequate heart rate and respiration was not reached. This will be followed by CPAP at 7 Cm H2O.

After oropharyngeal and nasal suctioning, if there is no signs of spontaneous breathing or breathing is insufficient and/or heart rate is below 100 bpm, intermittent mask and bag ventilation will be administrated at a rate 40-60 per minute using a self-inflating bag and mask with an oxygen reservoir.