Delivery room management of ELBW infants in Italy

Acta Biomed. 2015 Jun 29:86 Suppl 1:7-10.

Abstract

In this article we evaluated the consistency of practice and the adherence to the International Guidelines in early delivery room management of ELBW infants in Italy. A polyethylene bag/wrap was used by 54 centres (55.1%). In Northern regions, one centre (2.5%) reported to use oxygen concentrations >40% to initiate positive pressure ventilation in ELBW infants. These proportions were higher in the Central (14.3%) and Southern (16.2%) areas. A T-piece device for positive pressure ventilation was widely used (77/97, 79.4%). A median of 13% (IQR: 5%-30%) of ELBW infants received chest compressions at birth in Italy. Forty-seven out of 98 (47.9%) centres declared to administer prophylactic surfactant in delivery room. Although there were geographic differences in the country, our results showed a good general adherence to the International Guidelines for Neonatal Resuscitation.

MeSH terms

  • Delivery Rooms*
  • Guideline Adherence
  • Humans
  • Infant, Extremely Low Birth Weight
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infant, Premature
  • Infant, Premature, Diseases / therapy*
  • Italy