One-person versus two-person mask ventilation in preterm infants at birth: a pilot randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Mask leak and airway obstruction are common with mask ventilation in newborn infants, leading to suboptimal ventilation. We aimed to perform a pilot study measuring respiratory mechanics during one-person and two-person mask ventilation in preterm infants at birth. METHODS: Infants less than 30 weeks' gestation were eligible for the study. In the two-person method, one person holds the mask in place and the other provides positive pressure ventilation compared with the standard one-person mask hold. A respiratory function monitor was used in line with a T-piece resuscitator to measure mask leak and airway obstruction. Deferred consent was obtained. RESULTS: Twenty-five infants were recruited. The mean (SD) birth weight was 920.4 g (188.3), and mean (SD) gestational age was 27.3 weeks (3.0). Percentage mask leak was higher in the one-person mask method (26.4±18.5) compared with the two-person mask method (17.6±9.3) (p=0.018). The mean (SD) expired tidal volume (VTe, mL) in breaths with leak was 3.9 (1.57) in the one-person method compared with 3.05 (1.0) the two-person method (p=0.31). A significantly lower mean (SD) end-tidal carbon dioxide (EtCO2, mm Hg) was measured at 25.3 (9.9) in breaths with mask leak, compared with 30.8 (12.1) in breaths without leak. The breaths with airway obstruction had lower mean EtCO2 (25.9 vs 30.8, p=0.003) and lower mean VTe (1.71 vs 6.95, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Mask leak and airway obstruction are common in resuscitation of preterm infants at birth. The use of the two-person mask technique is effective and it could be a useful option if mask ventilation with the one-person method is not effective. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ACTRN12614000245695.

T-piece resuscitators: can they provide safe ventilation in a low compliant newborn lung?

BACKGROUND: T-piece resuscitators (TPRs) are used for primary newborn resuscitation in birthing and emergency rooms worldwide. A recent study has shown spikes in peak inflation pressure (PIP) over set values with two brands of TPRs inbuilt into infant warmer/resuscitation platforms. We aimed to compare delivered ventilation between two TPR drivers with inflation pressure spikes to a standard handheld TPR in a low test lung compliance (Crs), leak-free bench test model. METHODS: A single operator provided positive pressure ventilation to a low compliance test lung model (Crs 0.2-1 mL/cmH2O) at set PIP of 15, 25, 35 and 40 cmH2O. Two TPR devices with known spikes (Draeger Resuscitaire, GE Panda) were compared with handheld Neopuff (NP). Recommended settings for positive end-expiratory pressure (5 cmH2O), inflation rate of 60/min and gas flow rate 10 L/min were used. RESULTS: 2293 inflations were analysed. Draeger and GE TPR drivers delivered higher mean PIP (Panda 18.9-49.5 cmH2O; Draeger 21.2-49.2 cmH2O and NP 14.8-39.9 cmH2O) compared with set PIP and tidal volumes (TVs) compared with the NP (Panda 2.9-7.8 mL; Draeger 3.8-8.1 mL; compared with NP 2.2-6.0 mL), outside the prespecified acceptable range (±10% of set PIP and ±10% TV compared with NP). CONCLUSION: The observed spike in PIP over set values with Draeger and GE Panda systems resulted in significantly higher delivered volumes compared with the NP with identical settings. Manufacturers need to address these differences. The effect on patient outcomes is unknown.