title: Electrocardiogram shows reliable heart rates much earlier than pulse oximetry during neonatal resuscitation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to determine the usefulness of the three-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) during neonatal resuscitation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Both pulse oximetry (PO) and ECG were applied immediately after delivery to measure heart rate (HR). We reviewed video recordings of the respective monitors, and checked the time at which each monitor started to display reliable rate values.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 20 deliveries, ECG showed HR much earlier than PO (median 38 s vs 122 s after delivery). ECG displayed reliable HR throughout resuscitation. We were able to confirm the effectiveness of the initial respiratory support from the elevation in HR.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ECG was a safe and reliable method for showing HR, and was used to determine the initiation and the effectiveness of resuscitation in the delivery room.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Kitano Hospital, Tazuke Kofukai Medical Research Institute, Osaka, Japan. h-mizumoto@kitano-hp.or.jp
authors: Hiroshi
authors: H
authors: Mizumoto
authors: Seiichi
authors: S
authors: Tomotaki
authors: Hirofumi
authors: H
authors: Shibata
authors: Kazutoshi
authors: K
authors: Ueda
authors: Ryoko
authors: R
authors: Akashi
authors: Hiroko
authors: H
authors: Uchio
authors: Daisuke
authors: D
authors: Hata
mesh_terms: D004562:Electrocardiography; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010092:Oximetry; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012151:Resuscitation