New Insights in Neonatal Resuscitation

Dear Colleagues,

Approximately 10% of newborn infants need help to begin breathing at birth, and ~1% need intensive resuscitative measures to restore cardiorespiratory function. Successful neonatal resuscitation efforts depend on critical actions that must occur in rapid succession to maximize the chances of survival.

This Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive overview for researchers, practitioners, and healthcare professionals to share and discuss the latest advancements, innovative strategies, and emerging trends in neonatal resuscitation.

This Special Issue seeks to facilitate the dissemination of knowledge that can improve the quality of care and outcomes for newborns requiring resuscitation. We aim to address the following areas: (i) emerging techniques and technologies, (ii) clinical guidelines and protocols, (iii)  quality improvement initiatives, (iv) multidisciplinary approaches, (v) ethical considerations, (vi) global perspectives, (vii) long-term outcomes and follow-up, (viii) education and training, (ix) innovations in preterm resuscitation, and (x) challenges and future directions.

We seek original articles, including randomized trials, observational or cohort studies, randomized animal studies, review articles, systematic reviews and meta-analyses, trial protocols, and surveys.

Prof. Dr. Georg Schmölzer
Guest Editor

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• neonatal resuscitation
• newborn
• delivery room
• oxygen
• cord management
• respiratory support

Title: Exploring the Effect of a Digital Game Simulator on Improving and Retaining the Neonatal Resuscitation Knowledge of Labour and Delivery Room Staff
Authors: Christiane Bilodeau; Georg M. Schmölzer; Maria Cutumisu
Affiliation: University of Alberta
Abstract: Background. Healthcare providers (HCPs) working in labour and delivery rooms need to undergo regular refresher courses to upkeep their neonatal resuscitation skills, which are shown to decline over time. However, due to their irregular schedule and limited time, HCPs encounter difficulties readily accessing refresher programs. Thus, we developed a digital game, RETAIN, that simulates a delivery room and can facilitate training in neonatal resuscitation anywhere and anytime to better fit HCPs’ schedules. Objective. This study aims to ascertain whether one of these instructional methods, video lecture or RETAIN digital game, is more effective for refreshing and maintaining participants’ neonatal resuscitation knowledge. Methods. In this randomized control trial, n=42 labour and delivery room HCPs completed a pre-test and were randomly assigned to a control or a treatment group. For 20-30 minutes, participants in the control group watched a lecture video on neonatal resuscitation, whereas participants in the treatment group played the RETAIN digital game on the same topic. Then, all participants completed a post-test. Two months later, participants were administered another post-test. Results. A robust two-way mixed ANOVA analysis revealed a statistically significant improvement in participants’ neonatal resuscitation performance over the first two time points, with a significant performance decline to the third time point. This pattern of results did not differ between conditions. Also, participants reported positive attitudes toward the RETAIN digital game simulator. Conclusion. The findings suggest that the RETAIN digital game simulator is an enjoyable alternative to more traditional neonatal resuscitation booster training methods.

Title: Electronic Heart (ECG) Monitoring at Birth and Newborn Resuscitation
Authors: Sarah Mende; Syed Ahmed; Lise DeShea; Edgardo Szyld; Birju A. Shah
Affiliation: Pediatrics, University of Oklahoma (OU) College of Medicine, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
Abstract: Neonatal electronic cardiac monitoring in labor and delivery room (DR-ECG) is shown to be sustained at a tertiary care regional perinatal center despite COVID-19 and other complex organizational challenges. In this contemporary cohort, initial increase in chest compressions at birth associated with the introduction of DR-ECG monitoring was mitigated by focused educational interventions on effective ventilation with no difference in neonatal mortality. DR-ECG may help our understanding of human and system factors, identify potential better practices for optimal resuscitation team performance and assess impact of targeted training initiatives on clinical outcomes.