WHAT'S KNOWN ON THIS SUBJECT: Infants who require positive pressure ventilation at birth are considered to be at risk for subsequent compromise and are recommended to receive postresuscitation care. The supportive evidence and details of this care have not been fully investigated.
WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS:We investigate the need for postresuscitation care in infants who require positive pressure ventilation at birth, review the aspects of care needed, and explore the important risk factors most predictive of it. METHODS: Our hospital admits any infant who requires PPV at birth to special (intermediate/intensive) neonatal care unit (SNCU) for observation for at least 6 hours. All infants $35 weeks' gestation born between 1994 and 2013, who received PPV at birth, were reviewed. We examined perinatal factors that could predict the need for PRC after short (,1 minute) and prolonged ($1 minute) PPV, admission course, neonatal morbidities, and the aspects of care given.RESULTS: Among 87 464 infants born, 3658 (4.2%) had PPV at birth with 3305 (90%) admitted for PRC. Of those, 1558 (42.6%) were in the short PPV group and 2100 (57.4%) in the prolonged PPV group. Approximately 59% of infants who received short PPV stayed in the SNCU for $1 day. Infants who received prolonged PPV were more likely to have morbidities and require special neonatal care. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed the risk factors of placental abruption, assisted delivery, small-for-dates, gestational age ,37 weeks, low 5-minute Apgar score, and need for intubation at birth to be independent predictors for SNCU stay $1 day and need for assisted ventilation, central lines, and parenteral nutrition.