Mechanisms of action for T-piece resuscitation


The T-piece connects to a face mask or other interface to deliver a flow regulated, pressure limited gas supply to the infant, enabling application of controlled initial inflation breaths.

Compared to other types of resuscitators such as self-inflating bags and flow-inflating bags, T-piece resuscitators provide consistent and controlled pressures independent of operator experience.1,2 For this reason, current international resuscitation guidelines by ILCOR, NRP and ANZCOR recommend the use of a T-piece resuscitator when a gas source is available.3-5 Providing consistent and controlled pressures with a T-piece resuscitator offers a range of benefits to neonates and infants.

Humidified T-piece resuscitation is a method of delivering warm, humidified gas to an infant during resuscitation, and may help to increase the incidence of normothermia on admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), compared to using cold and dry gas.6,7 T-piece resuscitation provides a range of benefits that are associated with the safety and efficacy of resuscitation therapy.

Helps protect the lungs from injury


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

PIP is the maximum inspiratory pressure required to improve oxygenation without causing adverse effects. Delivering a controlled PIP is important as uncontrolled PIP that is too high may lead to lung injury, while under-inflating the lungs may not provide adequate gas exchange.

At birth, the lungs of preterm infants are uniquely susceptible to injury because they are structurally immature, surfactant-deficient, fluid-filled, and not supported by a stiff chest wall. Animal studies have demonstrated that lung injury can occur during resuscitation with just a few large manual inflations.8,9 In immature animals, ventilation at birth with high tidal volumes associated with the generation of high PIP for a few minutes can cause lung injury, impaired gas exchange, and reduced lung compliance.10


infant resuscitation protect the lung injury
Data from measurements obtained from a resuscitation simulator while a F&P Neopuff was used by a qualified resuscitator.
Infant resuscitation maintains functional residual capacity
Effect of CPAP/positive pressure on lung volume and alveoli. On the left, lung and alveoli under respiratory distress without positive pressure/PEEP. On the right, lung and alveoli with positive pressure/PEEP.

Establishes and maintains functional residual capacity

T-piece resuscitators deliver consistent and controlled PEEP, the residual pressure maintained at the end of expiration. Research suggests that adequate levels of PEEP may help to establish and maintain FRC during transition at birth.11

Resuscitation guidelines recommend delivering PEEP whenever positive pressure ventilation is required in the delivery room.12 On a T-piece resuscitator, PEEP can be set to the desired pressure and tested before use on a patient.

Research has shown that providing PEEP early during ventilation improves the response to surfactant, and may also reduce intubation rates in the delivery room and the incidence of lung injury.13-15  

An illustration showing the delivery of resuscitation
via a F&P T-piece and mask

Delivers consistent pressures independent of operator experience

Studies have investigated and compared operator performance with different resuscitators.

Resuscitation simulations have found that operator experience and level of training did not affect the pressures delivered during resuscitation when a Fisher and Paykel Healthcare Neopuff T-piece resuscitator was used. Also, for operators with no specific  training in manual ventilation, use of the T-piece device has been advised, to control for excessive PIP and tidal volume.1,2 

Hypothermia-Normothermia Graph
Heating and humidifying inspired gases for early stabilization of preterm infants resulted in a lower rate of hypothermia and a higher rate of normothermia on admission to the NICU when compared to no heating and humidification of inspired gases (control group).

Adapted from Meyer, M.P. et al. Front. Pediatr. (2018).

Heated and humidified T-piece resuscitation promotes normothermia

Newborn infants are exposed to heat loss immediately following birth.

A meta-analysis found that the use of heated and humidified T-piece resuscitation in the delivery room resulted in significantly more infants with normothermia on NICU admission, compared to the use of cold and dry gas.6 Normothermia is defined as a rectal temperature between 36.5°C and 37.5°C. 

The use of heated gas during delivery room stabilization has also been observed to reduce the rate of moderate hypothermia on admission to the NICU, with no increased risk of hyperthermia.7  

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