[Resuscitation in the delivery room: experience in 3 Veneto Centers]

On the basis of the classical USA guidelines for neonatal resuscitation, we examined the personnel activity in delivery room in 3 Veneto's Centres of different level (level I, II, III). Totally, we studied 3492 neonates in the period January, 1-December, 31, 1994. Three hundred and seven (8.7%) of them needed resuscitation at birth; respectively 5.6%, 4.6% and 14.2% in the level I, II and III Centres. The management of the first neonatal resuscitation's step was similar in the 3 studied Hospitals, while the second phases (ventilation) was different among the Centres. In fact, in the level I and II Hospitals the most part of the neonates were treated by ventilation bag (81.8% and 74.6%, respectively), while only a little part of them received endotracheal intubation (18.2% and 25.4%, respectively). In the level III Centre, endotracheal intubation (87.4%) was more frequently used respect to ventilation bag (12.6%). The third phases, chest compressions, was performed in many resuscitated infants in the level I (54.5%) and II (22.8%) Hospitals, while no infant needed it in the 3th Centre. The last step, drug and fluid administration, interested few patients in every Centre. Furthermore, the physicians of the 3 examined Institutions followed no protocol for neonatal resuscitation. The differences in neonatal resuscitation policy among the 3 studied Centres demonstrate the absence of a protocol and an educational program for the personnel. Theoretical and practical guidelines for correct neonatal resuscitation have to be implemented in our Region.