title: Mechanical ventilation of the neonate: should we target volume or pressure?
abstract: For more than 40 years conventional mechanical ventilation has been used for the treatment of neonatal respiratory failure. Until relatively recently, this was accomplished with time-cycled pressure-limited ventilation, using intermittent mandatory ventilation. Earlier attempts at volume-targeted ventilation were largely ineffective because of technological limitations. The advent of microprocessor-based devices gives the clinician an option to choose either target variable to treat neonatal patients. This paper reviews the principles of each and the accumulated evidence.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, F5790, Mott Children's Hospital, University of Michigan Health System, 1500 E Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor MI 48109-0254, USA. smdonnmd@med.umich.edu
authors.forename: Steven M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Donn
authors.forename: Win
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Boon
mesh_terms: D055317:Evidence-Based Practice; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000379:methods*; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000628:therapy*