II. Epidemiology
- Five million neonatal deaths per year worldwide
- Birth Asphyxia accounts for 19% of neonatal deaths
- Newborns in United States: 4 million births per year
- Newborns requiring respiratory assistance at birth: 10%
- Newborns requiring extensive Resuscitation at birth: 1%
- Newborns developing severe hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy: 0.2%
- Mortality ranges between 6-30%
- Cerebral Palsy and other long-term disabilities in survivors: 20-30%
- Early Resuscitation is key (intervene at primary apnea)
- Anticipate Neonatal Distress based on Neonatal Distress Risk Factors
- Primary apnea (initial) responds to simple measures
- Secondary apnea requires PPV and other interventions
- Does not respond to continued stimulation
- Associated with prolonged Resuscitation
- Associated with poorer outcomes
- Associated with decreased Heart Rate and BP
III. Physiology: Transition from Fetal Circulation at birth
- See Fetal Circulation
- Alveolar fluid is absorbed by lung
- Umbilical vessels are clamped
- Increases systemic Blood Pressure
- Pulmonary circulation increases
- Pulmonary vessel vasodilation
- Ductus arteriosus Vasoconstriction
IV. Protocol
- Prepare equipment and providers before delivery (see prevention below)
- Initial evaluation
- Core questions to determine if Resuscitation is indicated
- Is this baby consistent with term gestation?
- Is the newborn breathing or crying?
- Does the newborn have good Muscle tone?
- Other questions
- See Newborn History
- Is the newborn clear of meconium?
- Is the skin pink centrally?
- When Resuscitation is not needed (good tone and respirations)
- Infant may be handed off to mother
- Core questions to determine if Resuscitation is indicated
- Consider Neonatal Distress Causes
- See THE MISFITS Mnemonic
- Fever (or Hypothermia)
- Associated with serious Bacterial Infection in 10% of age <2 weeks and 5% of age 2-4 weeks
- See Neonatal Sepsis for evaluation and management
- Congenital Heart Disease is most likely in a hemodynamically unstable infant with normal Temperature
- See Congenital Heart Disease for evaluation and management
- Obtain early Echocardiogram
- Distinguish ductal dependent pulmonary Blood Flow from ductal dependent systemic Blood Flow
- References
- Sloas, Checchia and Orman in Majoewsky (2013) EM: Rap 13(9): 8
- Step by step assessment (timer started at delivery)
- Precautions
- Only two markers guide Resuscitation
- Respiratory status and Heart Rate
- Only two medications are used in Neonatal Resuscitation
- Epinephrine and volume expanders (NS, Blood)
- Ventilations are the single most important measure in Neonatal Resuscitation
- Initiate Positive Pressure Ventilations (PPV) promptly within 30 seconds (if indicated)
- Coordinate PPV and compressions to ensure adequate ventilation until Advanced Airway placed
- Only two markers guide Resuscitation
- Perineum management
- Perineal suction (peripartum suction) is no longer recommended
- Delay cord clamp for 30-60 seconds in newborn not requiring Resuscitation (term, good tone, breathing)
- Neonatal Airway Assessment
- Includes general measures performed for all infants
- Includes warming, suctioning, drying, stimulation
- Endotracheal suctioning is no longer recommended for thick meconium
- Regardless of whether infant is vigorous
- However, intubation may be needed as part of general Resuscitation
- Neonatal Breathing Assessment
- Positive Pressure Ventilation (PPV)
- Indicated at 30 second mark for apnea, gasping or Heart Rate <100/min
- Rate of 40-60/min for 30 seconds (one-and-two-and-three-and-breath)
- Peak inspiratory pressure (PIP) started at 20-25cm H2O (may require 30-40 cm H2O)
- Initial FIO2 set at 21% (room air) for term and 21-30% for Preterm Infants
- Consider reasons if inadequate Positive Pressure Ventilation (Mnemonic: MR SOPA)
- Mask adjustment, Reposition
- Suction, Open mouth, PPV, Alternate airways
- Consider Pneumothorax
- Apply O2 Sat monitor if PPV needed
- Apply Oxygen Saturation monitor preductally (e.g. right palm or wrist)
- See Oxygen Saturation for normal levels for newborns
- Oxygen Saturation is normally 60-65% in the first minute of life (and increases 5% every minute)
- Oxygen Saturation does not normally increase to >85% until after 10 minutes of life
- Endotracheal Tube intubation or Laryngeal Mask Airway (LMA) if PPV for >2-3 minutes (confirm with etCO2)
- Cuff inflation pressure: term <30 cm H2O and preterm <20-25 cm
- PEEP 5 cm H2O
- Consider CPAP for moderate respiratory support
- Positive Pressure Ventilation (PPV)
- Neonatal Circulation Assessment
- Measure Heart Rate with three lead ekg
- Palpation of Umbilicus and chest auscultation are no longer considered reliable (2015 guidelines)
- Place an infant needing Resuscitation on monitor as soon as possible
- Positive Pressure Ventilation for continued Heart Rate <100/min or apnea
- Chest Compressions
- Indicated at 60 second mark for Heart Rate <60/min after 30 seconds of PPV
- Two thumb wrap-around technique is preferred for Chest Compressions
- Rate of 3:1 compressions to breaths (90 compressions and 30 breaths per minute)
- Count "one-and-two-and-three-and-breath" with one event every 0.5 seconds
- Unless cardiac etiology is suspected and then change to 15:2 compressions to breaths
- Reassess 45-60 seconds after starting compressions
- Obtain Umbilical Vein Catheter
- Insert 5 F umbilical catheter to 4-5 cm or until blood returns
- Use sterile technique (Betadine stump and fresh cut)
- Insert 5 F umbilical catheter to 4-5 cm or until blood returns
- Epinephrine
- Indicated at 2 min for Heart Rate <60/min after 60 sec of compressions (and 90 seconds of PPV)
- Umbilical Venous Catheter: 0.01 to 0.03 mg/kg (0.1 to 0.3 ml/kg) of 1:10,000 Epinephrine
- Endotracheal Tube: 0.05 to 0.10 mg/kg (0.5 to 1 ml/kg) of 1:10,000 Epinephrine
- Measure Heart Rate with three lead ekg
- Neonatal Perfusion Assessment
- Keep infant warm (36.5 to 37.5 Celcius)
- Skin to skin with mother
- Radiant warmer
- Central Cyanosis
- Initial FIO2 set at 21% (room air) for term and 30% for Preterm Infants
- Increase to 100% FIO2 if performing Chest Compressions
- Oxygen free flow starting at 21% or blended and titrate up as needed
- Higher mortality with 100% FIO2 than 21% FIO2 (NNH 22)
- https://costr.ilcor.org/document/initial-oxygen-concentration-for-term-neonatal-resuscitation
- Initial FIO2 set at 21% (room air) for term and 30% for Preterm Infants
- Blood loss suspected
- Normal Saline 10 cc/kg bolus
- Transition to pRBC when available (if indicated)
- Keep infant warm (36.5 to 37.5 Celcius)
- Post-Resuscitation after extensive efforts for severe event
- Intravenous Dextrose infusion (prevent Hypoglycemia)
- Indicated after core Resuscitation
- Maintenance with D10W at 80 ml/kg/day (3.3 ml/kg/hour)
- If hypoglycemic (Serum Glucose <35-45 mg/dl)
- Give 2 cc/kg D10W
- Developing severe hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy in newborns >36 weeks
- Offer Therapeutic Hypothermia protocol (started within 6 hours of event at NICU)
- Prevent fever
- Portable Chest XRay
- Evaluate for Pneumothorax
- Intravenous Dextrose infusion (prevent Hypoglycemia)
- Precautions
V. Prevention
- Prepare for complicated deliveries
- Review Neonatal Distress Risk Factors and anticipate Neonatal Distress
- NRP-certified Resuscitation team available at all times
- NRP-certified provider present for high-risk deliveries
- Hospital delivery rooms stocked with adequate equipment
- Pulse Oximeter and skin Temperature probe
- Cord clamp and scissors
- Infant stethoscope
- Fully working warmer, blankets, hat
- Oxygen supply with air oxygen blender, masks
- Suction devices (bulb suction, suction catheters 5F to 10F)
- Positive Pressure Ventilation device 500cc (e.g. Anesthesia Bag, ambu-bag) with newborn and premature masks
- Endotracheal Tubes (2.5 to 4.0), Laryngeal Mask Airway, working Laryngoscope (0-1 Straight), CO2 Detection device, tape
- Resuscitation medications (e.g. Epinephrine 1:10,000, Normal Saline, D10W)
- Umbilical Vein Catheter equipment (3.5, 5.0 F catheter, scapel, Betadine, forceps, saline flush, umbilical tie)
VI. Precautions: Major changes in Neonatal Resuscitation
- As of 2015
- Do not endotracheal suction infants regardless of thick meconium or non-vigorous infant
- Delay cord clamping for 30-60 sec in term infants, with normal tone and breathing, not needing Resuscitation
- Prevent Hypothermia and keep infant Temperature 36.5 to 37.5 (monitor with Temperature sticker over liver)
- Monitor Heart Rate with 3 lead ekg (cord palpation and auscultation are considered unreliable)
- Resuscitate with FIO2 21% in term infants and 21-30% in Preterm Infants
- Higher mortality with 100% FIO2 than 21% FIO2 (NNH 22)
- As of 2010
- Perineal suctioning for meconium is no longer recommended
- Monitor Resuscitation efforts with Pulse Oximetry (but do not expect O2 Sat >85% until after 10 min of life)
- End Tidal CO2 (etCO2) detector or monitor to confirm proper Endotracheal Tube placement
- Laryngeal Mask Airway (LMA) size 1 may be used instead of ET for ventilation in infants >2kg or >34 weeks gestation
- Naloxone and Sodium Bicarbonate are no longer recommended in Newborn Resuscitation
VII. Management: Indications to Discontinue Resuscitation Efforts
- Lethal anomalies (Informed Consent with parents if withholding care)
- Very premature (Gestational age <22 weeks, NO weight cutoff - previously cited as <400 grams)
- Anencephaly
- Trisomy 13 Syndrome
- No detectable Heart Rate (Asystole) with APGAR Score of 0 after 10 minutes of full Resuscitation efforts
- No longer limited to 10 minutes (10 minute mark has been extended to 20 minutes)
- Survival to discharge >50% for >32 week infants
- Zhong (2019) Resuscitation 143:77-84 +PMID: 31421194 [PubMed]
VIII. Management: Therapeutic Hypothermia Protocol
- Indications
- Gestational age >36 weeks AND
- High risk of severe hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy
- pH <7 (or pH <7.15 if follows acute perinatal event)
- Base Deficit >16 mmol/L (or >10 mmol/L if follows acute perinatal event)
- APGAR Score <5
- Encephalopathy or Seizures
- Protocol
- Start within 6 hours of birth
- Initiated for 72 hours and then gradual rewarming over 4 hours
- Consult with accepting neonatologist
- Goal Temperature: 92.3 to 94.1 F (33.5 to 34.5 C)
- Turn off the warmer and remove all blankets, hats
- References
IX. Preparations: Medications no longer recommended in Newborn Resuscitation (listed for completeness)
-
Sodium Bicarbonate (Use only 4.2% solution)
- Not recommended as worse outcomes with use
- Primary treatment of acidosis is by maximizing ventilation, not with bicarbonate
- Dose: 4 ml/kg (2 meq/kg of 4.2%) very slowly via large vessel (Umbilical Vein Catheter)
-
Naloxone
- Not recommended as of 2010 as no evidence for improved outcomes with use
- Primary treatment of apnea is with Positive Pressure Ventilation
- Dose: 0.1 mg/kg of 1.0 mg/ml IV, ET, IM or SQ
- Indications (old)
- Respiratory depression despite PPV (with normal Heart Rate and color)
- Maternal Opioid Analgesics within 4 hours
- Adverse effects
- Opioid Withdrawal in newborn if mother was on Chronic Opioids (use or abuse)
X. References
- (2016) CALS Manual, 14th ed, p. I-199-211
- (1995) World Health Report, WHO
- Bhalla (2014) Crit Dec Emerg Med 28(1): 2-11
- Claudius in Herbert (2021) EM:Rap 21(5): 18-20
- Claudius, Behar, Nichols in Herbert (2015) EM:Rap 15(1): 3-4
- Spangler, Claudius, Behar and Nicholas in Herbert (2016) EM:Rap 16(9): 11-3
- Kattwinkel (2000) Neonatal Resuscitation, AAP-AHA
- Kattwinkel (2010) Neonatal Resuscitation, AAP-AHA
- (2015) Pediatrics 136(suppl 2): 196-218 +PMID:26473001 [PubMed]
- Raghuveer (2011) Am Fam Physician 83(8): 911-8 [PubMed]