Improving lung aeration in ventilated newborn preterm rabbits with a partially aerated lung

Abstract

Preterm newborns commonly receive intermittent positive pressure ventilation (iPPV) at birth, but the optimal approach that facilitates uniform lung aeration is unknown, particularly in a partially aerated lung. Using phase contrast X-ray imaging, we showed that combining a long inflation time (1.0 s) with surfactant improved lung mechanics and aeration in the immediate newborn period. The current clinical practice of using short inflation times during iPPV might be suboptimal, and a different approach is needed.