Resuscitation Therapy

The aim of newborn resuscitation is to establish effective spontaneous breathing or assist ventilation of the lungs within the first few minutes of life.

The different devices that can be used to resuscitate infants at birth include self-inflating and flow-inflating bags, and T-piece resuscitators.

While most babies born at term manage transition without significant medical intervention, approximately 10% may require assistance to begin breathing at birth and less than 1% require advanced neonatal resuscitation interventions.1-4

T-piece resuscitators are typically gas powered and capable of delivering a preset, consistent, and controlled peak inspiratory pressure (PIP) and positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP). Some international resuscitation guidelines, such as the ANZCOR guideline, recommend primary use of T-piece resuscitators, based on consensus opinion.5 

 

How does T-piece resuscitation work?

T-piece resuscitation delivers consistent and controlled PIP and PEEP, helping to protect the lungs from injury and also establish and maintain functional residual capacity (FRC). FRC is the volume of air that remains in the lungs following a typical expiratory phase. This volume is important for keeping the lungs open post-exhalation and for ensuring adequate pulmonary gas exchange.6 

Heated and humidified T-piece resuscitation is a method of delivering warm, humidified gas to an infant during resuscitation at birth. Its use, when compared to resuscitation with cold and dry gas, is associated with a higher rate of normothermia (rectal temperature between 36.5°C - 37.5°C) on admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).7-9  

Key mechanisms and benefits of T-piece resuscitation include the following:

Infant manometer designed to help protect lungs from injury

Helps protect the lungs from injury 

T-piece resuscitators have been designed to provide consistent and controlled set PIP during resuscitation.
Infant residual capacity

Establishes and maintains functional residual capacity (FRC)

T-piece resuscitators deliver consistent and controlled PEEP. Research suggests that adequate levels of PEEP may help to establish and maintain FRC during transition at birth.
Learn more about T-piece resuscitation
Infant Resuscitation Hypothermia Graph

Heated and humidified
T-piece resuscitation promotes normothermia

Heated and humidified T-piece resuscitation can increase the rate of admission normothermia when compared to the use of cold and dry gas.

Resuscitation Product Range

Neopuff Infant Respiratory

Neopuff™ T-piece resuscitator to deliver controlled pressures 

The Neopuff is a T-piece resuscitator designed by Fisher & Paykel Healthcare to deliver controlled, consistent, and precise pressures.
 
Classic, ergonomic and humidified T-piece circuits

Classic, ergonomic, and humidified T-piece circuits

Fisher & Paykel Healthcare offers three types of T-piece circuits - classic, ergonomic, and humidified - which can be connected to a mask or endotracheal tube.

Resuscitation masks in Infant Respiratory

Resuscitation masks

The Fisher & Paykel Healthcare resuscitation masks for neonates and infants are available in different sizes to fit a range of patients.

.
View references