Educational Perspectives

Abstract

In the fall of 2005, the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR) Consensus on Science and Treatment Recommendations (CoSTR) as well as the American Heart Association’s Guidelines for Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC) were published in Circulation . The guidelines were prepared by the American Heart Association Pediatric Subcommittee and American Academy of Pediatrics Neonatal Resuscitation Program Steering Committee based on an extensive review of the existing literature on neonatal resuscitation. The guidelines were used to develop and revise the Textbook of Neonatal Resuscitation , 5th edition, and accompanying Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) education materials. Based on their findings, various changes have been made to the NRP, including new recommendations for the use of supplemental oxygen and endotracheal epinephrine. These changes have the potential for a profound impact on medical practice around the world. Newborns who do not require resuscitation generally can be identified by a rapid assessment of the following four characteristics: Of note, a fifth question, “Is the baby pink?” no longer appears as part of the rapid assessment immediately after birth. The sequential approach to a newborn in the delivery room remains the same (Figure⇓). NRP providers should continue to adhere to the ABCs of resuscitation: airway before breathing before circulation. The four categories of action in sequence are: Figure. Neonatal flow algorithm. Reprinted with permission from American Heart Association, American Academy of Pediatrics. 2005 American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and emergency cardiovascular care (ECC) of pediatric and neonatal …