Recent Advances in Medical Equipments for Neonatal Care

ABSTRACT

Although the survival and quality of life of high-risk babies including very tiny babies such as those with 500g of birth weight have improved since the 1970s due to the progress of medical technology, it is true that the medical personnel seem to be dependent more on the mechanics than on the visual inspection of patients. In Korea, the infant mortality rate has reached almost the same level to those in advanced countries such as Japan, Sweden, and the United States. In the past, medical equipments used to be very big in size and difficult to manage with complicated manuals. However, the equipments nowadays are smaller, more functional and safe, and simpler to manage. Since many kinds of medical equipments are used in the treatment and diagnosis of high-risk neonates in neonatal intensive care units (NICU), it is important to be able to use them safely and effectively. Medical personnel should understand the characteristics of the equipments and how to use them well, and also should consider their safety and cost-effectiveness.