We need you! Join our contributor community and become a WikEM editor through our open and transparent promotion process.
Newborn resuscitation
From WikEM
Use this note for immediate after-delivery resuscitation; see neonatal resuscitation for the non-delivery related resuscitation of the newborn.
Contents
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?
- 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
- D10W (2-4 mL/kg = 0.2gm/kg)
- 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
- Continue to be apneic or gasping? HR below 100 (assess HR by auscultation, 3 lead ECG or umbilical cord palpation)?
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:
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[1][2]:
- 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
- Beware of three common side effects that may require further resuscitation[1][2]:
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
- ↑ Martin RJ et al. Pathophysiologic Mechanisms Underlying Apnea of Prematurity. NeoReviews Vol.3 No.4 April 2002.
- ↑ Segar JL. Protocol for Use of Prostaglandin E. University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital. Accessed Dec 2016. https://uichildrens.org/health-library/protocol-use-prostaglandin-e?id=234424