title: An Innovative Air-Oxygen Blender for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Support in Resource-Poor Locations: A Feasibility Study.
abstract: The objectives of this study are (i) to evaluate the feasibility of using an inexpensive air pump to maintain reliable oxygen concentration in a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) system and (ii) to evaluate whether an inexpensive air pump can maintain infant 02 sats >90%.
  
  
  
  This prospective study, which included 19 babies in pilot phase and 90 during extension phase, was conducted at a neonatal intensive care unit in a resource-poor academic medical center in India. The intervention involved introduction of an air pump in the CPAP delivery system. Outcome measures were oxygen concentration in the air-oxygen blend and oxygen saturation of the study babies.
  
  
  
  Oxygen concentration at the outlets ranged between 56 and 70% and in the blend between 42 and 51%. Oxygen saturation ranged between 90 and 97%.
  
  
  
  A simple and inexpensive air pump can work as a safe and effective oxygen blender.
authors.affiliation: The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, MIMER Medical College, Talegaon Dabhade 410507, India.
authors.forename: By Subhashchandra
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Daga
authors.affiliation: Joshi Children's Hospital, Virar 401303, India.
authors.forename: Hemant
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Joshi
authors.affiliation: The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, MIMER Medical College, Talegaon Dabhade 410507, India.
authors.forename: Prashant
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gunjal
authors.affiliation: The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, MIMER Medical College, Talegaon Dabhade 410507, India.
authors.forename: Sameer
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mhatre
mesh_terms: D045422:Continuous Positive Airway Pressure / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007223:Infant; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015931:Intensive Care, Neonatal / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D009359:Neonatology / Q000639:trends; D010100:Oxygen / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen
keywords: child mortality; continuous positive airway pressure; innovations in neonatology; neonatal mortality; neonatal respiratory distress