Neonatal resuscitation

Abstract

Resuscitation of newborn infants has changed over time and national standards have resulted in trained staff, but asphyxia is still the cause of death for many infants dying in the neonatal period. A major change occurred in 2011 with the publication of the 6th edition of the "Textbook of neonatal resuscitation". Prior to that time; most courses followed a lecture-demonstration-practice-test format, but now, we leave most of the didactics to the students themselves -- students are required to take the examination, on line, before starting the practical segment of the course -- and, although we still expect near-perfection with individual skills, the main part of the course consists of one or more simulated resuscitations in which a group of students conduct the resuscitation under the instructor's gaze, and then are debriefed with the instructor.