Incomplete Exhalation during Resuscitation—Theoretical Review and Examples from Ventilation of Newborn Term Infants

Background: Newborn resuscitation guidelines recommend positive pressure ventilation (PPV) for newborns who do not establish effective spontaneous breathing after birth. T-piece resuscitator systems are commonly used in high-resource settings and can additionally provide end-expiratory (PEEP). Short expiratory time, high resistance, rapid dynamic changes lung compliance large tidal volumes increase the possibility of incomplete exhalation. Previous publications indicate that this may occur during newborn resuscitation. Our aim was to study examples exhalations term discuss these against theoretical background. Methods: Examples flow data from respiratory function monitors (RFM) were selected 129 received PPV using a resuscitator. RFM presented user Results: exhalation with higher-than-set PEEP-levels present recordings visual correlation factors affecting time needed complete Conclusions: Incomplete relationship constants have been well described theoretically. We documented increased newborns. conclude resuscitations be reviewed purpose should further explored, as clinical benefit or risk harm known.