Newborn resuscitation

Use this note for immediate after-delivery resuscitation; see neonatal resuscitation for the non-delivery related resuscitation of the newborn.

Background

Newborn Vital Signs

• HR RR SBP^
• >100 40-80 60-70

^<3kg (premature) SBP = 40-60

Differential Diagnosis

Newborn Problems

• Newborn resuscitation
• Hypoxia
  • Primary apnea
  • Secondary apnea
• Hypothermia
• Hypoglycemia
• Meconium aspiration
• Anemia (abruption)
• Infant scalp hematoma

Evaluation

Assessment Triad

• Term?
• Tone?
• Breathing or crying?
• If yes, stay with mother for routine care (clear secretions, dry, warm and maintain temperature)
• If no:
  • Respiration: adequacy, difficulty
  • Circulation: HR >100, palpate at umbilical base or auscultate for HR
  • Color - central cyanosis?

Apgar score

	Score of 0	Score of 1	Score of 2
Appearance	blue or pale all over (central cyanosis)	peripheral cyanosis (acrocyanosis) body pink	no cyanosis body and extremities pink
Pulse	absent	<100 beats per minute	>100 beats per minute
Grimace	no response to stimulation	grimace on suction or aggressive stimulation	cry on stimulation
Activity	none	some flexion	flexed arms and legs that resist extension
Respiration	absent	weak, irregular, gasping	strong, lusty cry

Management

See newborn critical care quick reference for drug doses and equipment sizes.

Resuscitation Algorithm

Evaluate for Tone, Term, and Breathing

• If yes, stay with mother for routine care (clear secretions, dry, warm and maintain temperature)
• If no:
  • Respiration: adequacy, difficulty
  • Circulation: HR >100, palpate at umbilical base or auscultate for HR
  • Color - central cyanosis?

Patient have poor tone or is apneic?

1. Dry, warm, position, suction, stimulate
   • Gently dry newborn with warm towel
   • Position: neutral (sniffing position)
   • Suction: oral then nasal
     • Mouth before nose, M before N in alphabet
   • Stimulate: along spine or feet
   • Check glucose
     • D10W (2-4 mL/kg = 0.2gm/kg)
       • If patient >2.5 kg and glucose <40mg/dL
       • If patient <2.5 kg and glucose <30mg/dL
2. Reexamine patient:
   • Continue to be apneic or gasping? HR below 100 (assess HR by auscultation, 3 lead ECG or umbilical cord palpation)?
     • PPV/BVM x 30 seconds (40-60 breaths/min @ 20-25 cmH20)
     • SpO2 monitor: Place O2 sat monitor preductal (right hand or wrist)
     • Initial resuscitation >35 wks 21% FiO2, < 35 wks 21-30% FiO2
     • Titrate O2 to target sat

Min of life	Target sat
1 min	60-65%
2 min	65-70%
3 min	70-75%
4 min	75-80%
5 min	80-85%
10 min	85-95%

• If patient on reexamine just has persistent cyanosis or labored breathing:
  • Reposition and clear airway
  • Consider CPAP

On reassessment after 30 seconds of above intervention

• If HR continues to be below 100
  • Check chest movement and make sure patient is being ventilated appropriately
  • Intubate patient and continue resuscitation until HR > 100 BPM
    • ET (indications); ETT size = Gest age (wks) / 10^^
    • Laryngeal mask airway alternative
• If patient HR < 60 BPM on reassesment
  • Intubate if not already done
  • Chest Compressions
    • Aim for 120 compressions per min (Respirations 3:1), stop when HR > 60
    • For compressions, wrap hands around patient's thorax and use thumbs to compress anterior chest wall
  • Consider Epi (0.01-0.03mg/kg) if:
    • HR<60 despite above intervention
    • Use only 1:10,000

• For prolonged code (HR < 60) consider hypovolemia and pneumothorax

• Medications to consider:
  • D10W (2-4 mL/kg = 0.2gm/kg)
  • Nalaxone (0.1 - 0.4mg/kg)
    • In past, for opioid use <4hrs
    • No longer recommended
    • Assist ventilation as needed instead
  • NS (10 mL/kg boluses)
  • PRBC 10mL/kg if abruption with anemia
  • Dopamine drip
    • (5-20 mcg/kg/min)
  • NaHCO3 - prolonged resus
    • (1-2 meQ/kg)

Newborn Vent Settings

• Pressure Cycled: RR 30+, PIP 20/2 (Preemie 15/2)

Airway

• Optimize
  • Position head in sniffing position
  • Suction mouth then nose
• Intubate
  • Indicated if patient is poorly responsive or fails BVM
  • If have time precut ET tube at 13cm mark
  • Lip placement = 6 + wt (kg)
  • Or, lip placement = measure nasal septum to tragus length (NTL) in cm + 1
  • After intubation suction trachea to prevent aspiration (if +meconium)

Tube Size / age / wt	Blade	Suction Catheter	Insertion Depth (cm)
2.5 / <28 / <1000	Miller 0	5F or 6F	6-7
3.0 / 28-34 / 1000-2000	Miller 0	6F or 8F	7-8
3.5 / 34-38 / 2000-3000	Miller 0	8F	8-9
3.5-4.0 />38 / >3000	Miller 0-1	8F or 10F	9-10

Vascular Access

• Umbilical vein is site of choice

Volume Expansion

• NS 10mL/kg IV or umb vein over 5-10min
• O Rh-negative blood if abruption/anemic

Medications

• Epinephrine
  • Indicated for asystole or HR < 60 despite CPR >30s
  • 0.01-0.03mg/kg IVP q3-5min
• Sodium Bicarbonate
  • Helps to counteract negative inotropy/pulmonary hypertension caused by acidosis
  • Only give once adequate ventilation is established
  • 1-2 mEq/kg of 4.2% solution (2-4 mL/kg)
• Naloxone
  • Previously given if persistent respiratory depression AND maternal opioids within 4hr
  • No longer recommended; assist ventilations as needed until opioids wear off
  • 0.1-0.4mg/kg IV

Other

• Delay cord clamping 30-60 seconds if able
• Keep infant warm; heat loss leads to apnea, acidosis

Disposition

• Admission

Withholding Resuscitation

• Consider if:
  • <22wk or <400g
  • No signs of life after 10min of CPR

Special Problems

Cyanosis

• Must distinguish between central and peripheral
• Consider Prostaglandin E1 0.05-0.1 mcg/kg/min for cyanotic congenital heart disease and ductus closing
  • Beware of three common side effects that may require further resuscitation:
    • Apnea, 12%, which requires respiratory monitoring with ETCO2 capnography, potential mechanical ventilation, and/or ALS/PALS transport if needing transfer to higher level of care
    • Peripheral flushing with or without hypotension, 10%, which requires fluid resuscitation
    • Fever, 14%
  • See prostaglandin E1 for more

Pneumothorax

• Tension pneumothorax is highly related to subsequent ICH
  • Place 18-20ga catheter into 4th intracostal space, anterior axillary line

Hypoglycemia

• <30-35 in preterm newborn
• <35-40 in term newborn
• Treatment
  • D10W 2mL/kg IV

Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia

• Persistent respiratory distress with "seesaw" pattern
• Treat via immediate intubation, OG tube placement
  • Use lowest peak inspiratory pressure that allows for adequate chest rise
• Transfer to tertiary center with NICU and pediatric surgeon

See Also

• Neonatal Resuscitation
• Umbilical Vein Catheterization
• Transient tachypnea of the newborn
• Emergent delivery
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)

References

Authors

Ross Donaldson