[Current neonatal resuscitation practices in Polish neonatal units - national survey].
OBJECTIVE
We surveyed current neonatal resuscitation practices in Polish neonatal units to determine the factors, relevant to improving practices in this area.


METHODS
The study was performed within the framework of the National Standardization Programme on Neonatal Practices and Procedures in 2007. An 11 question survey included questions concerning the frequency of neonatal resuscitation, type of procedure performed during resuscitation ie.: medicaments and oxygen administration, umbilical vein catetherisation, equipment availability, resuscitation of extremely preterm babies. The survey included also questions concerning problems in resuscitation and their causes. 420 questionnaires were sent out and 274 were returned completed (65.2% response rate). 266 units providing delivery room resuscitation were included in the study.


RESULTS
Neonatal resuscitation procedures were needed significantly more frequently in the centres of the highest degree reference (p<0.001). There were also marked differences between the centres according to the frequency of umbilical vessels catetherisation and availability of the necessary medical equipment. In 44.6% of neonatal units, resuscitated newborns are successfully ventilated with room air. However, in 23.5% of the surveyed units, 100% oxygen is used for ventilation. The finding of great importance is that 30.7% of neonatal units stated the need for a trained resuscitator to attend a high risk pregnancy delivery and to resuscitate asphyxiated newborns.


CONCLUSIONS
There are substantial differences in neonatal resuscitation practices in different neonatal centres. These findings should stimulate appropriate authorities to start an educational programme to establish suitable polices in newborn resuscitation.
Lauterbach
Ryszard
R
Klinika Neonatologii Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego Collegium Medicum, 31-501 Kraków, Poland. ryszard@lauterbach.pl
Musialik-Swietlińska
Ewa
E
Swietliński
Janusz
J
Pawlik
Dorota
D
Migdał
Marek
M
Ksiazyk
Janusz
J
Brozek
Grzegorz
G
Zejda
Jan E
JE
D000328:Adult; D019985:Benchmarking; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards*; D015931:Intensive Care, Neonatal / Q000592:standards*; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000458:organization & administration; D011044:Poland; D011247:Pregnancy; D012151:Resuscitation / Q000592:standards*