Outcomes after delivery room positive pressure ventilation in late preterm and term infants.

Objectives: Characterize short-term outcomes of late preterm and term infants who received positive pressure ventilation in the delivery room and compare these with infants who did not receive resuscitation at birth. Study Design: Single center retrospective cohort study of infants born between 35 0/7 and 41 6/7 weeks' gestation in 2019. Baseline characteristics and outcomes of infants who received positive pressure ventilation were compared with controls who did not receive delivery room ventilation. The primary outcome was neonatal intensive care unit admission; secondary outcomes included multiple hospital morbidities and interventions. Results: Among 202 infants who received delivery room positive pressure ventilation, 77 (38.1%) received ≤1 min, and 125 (61.9%) received >1 min of positive pressure ventilation. Neonatal intensive care unit admission directly following resuscitation was more common in the ventilation cohort (33%) compared with controls (1.5%), p ≤ 0.0001. After initial admission to the newborn nursery, intensive care unit transfer rates were similar in the positive pressure ventilation cohort (4%) and controls (5%). Antibiotic exposure, hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, respiratory support in the neonatal intensive care unit, and pneumothorax were more common in the ventilation cohort. The composite outcome of any post-delivery complication occurred in 45% of positive pressure ventilation-exposed infants, compared to 15.8% of control infants (<0.0001); this was more common following >1 min (52.8%) than ≤1 min positive pressure ventilation (32.5%), p = 0.002. Conclusion: Post-delivery complications are common following delivery room positive pressure ventilation, emphasizing the need for post-resuscitation monitoring in either the neonatal intensive care unitor newborn nursery setting.

The Hidden Impact of Neonatology Boot Camp: A Qualitative Study.

INTRODUCTION: Simulation-based boot camps have been evaluated by fellows as an effective way to learn, to improve self-confidence, and to prepare for new responsibilities. However, existing studies do not explore how boot camps may contribute to other critical aspects of trainee development. Our objective was to use qualitative research methodology to characterize trainees' experiences of boot camp and its impact on their professional development. METHODS: This study used a phenomenological framework to explore fellows' experience of boot camp. Semistructured phone interviews were conducted with first-year neonatology fellows after attending the Regional Neonatology Boot Camp. Interviews were transcribed and coded for themes. The authors continually evaluated the coding categories in an iterative process until consensus was reached. RESULTS: Seventy-seven first-year neonatal-perinatal medicine fellows representing 16 fellowship programs participated in the Regional Neonatology Boot Camp in 2016 and 2017. Fifteen fellows from 10 institutions were interviewed before reaching thematic saturation. Five themes were identified: introspection about starting fellowship, learning to lead and communicate, gaining reassurance from the shared experience, understanding the fellow role, and developing future identity as a neonatologist. CONCLUSIONS: Participation in boot camp enhances fellows' professional identity formation (PIF) by incorporating key aspects of socialization, including role models and mentors, a variety of experiential learning, and opportunities for conscious self-reflection. In designing future boot camp experiences, educators should integrate these elements into the curriculum to support PIF and explicitly state PIF as a learning objective.

Corrective steps to enhance ventilation in the delivery room.

OBJECTIVE: The clinical impact of ventilation corrective steps for delivery room positive pressure ventilation (PPV) is not well studied. We aimed to characterise the performance and effect of ventilation corrective steps (MRSOPA (Mask adjustment, Reposition airway, Suction mouth and nose, Open mouth, Pressure increase and Alternative airway)) during delivery room resuscitation of preterm infants. DESIGN: Prospective observational study of delivery room PPV using video and respiratory function monitor recordings. SETTING: Tertiary academic delivery hospital. PATIENTS: Preterm infants <32 weeks gestation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Mean exhaled tidal volume (Vte) of PPV inflations before and after MRSOPA interventions, categorised as inadequate (<4 mL/kg); appropriate (4-8 mL/kg), or excessive (>8 mL/kg). Secondary outcomes were leak (>30%) and obstruction (Vte <1 mL/kg), and infant heart rate. RESULTS: There were 41 corrective interventions in 30 infants, with a median duration of 15 (IQR 7-29) s. The most frequent intervention was a combination of Mask/Reposition and Suction/Open. Mean Vte was inadequate before 16/41 interventions and became adequate following 6/16. Mean Vte became excessive after 6/41 interventions. Mask leak, present before 13/41 interventions, was unchanged after 4 and resolved after 9. Obstruction was present before five interventions and was subsequently resolved only once. MRSOPA interventions introduced leak in two cases and led to obstruction in one case. The heart rate was <100 beats per minute before 31 interventions and rose to >100 beats per minute after 14/31 of these. CONCLUSIONS: Ventilation correction interventions improve tidal volume delivery in some cases, but lead to ineffective or excessive tidal volumes in others. Mask leak and obstruction can be induced by MRSOPA manoeuvres.