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Objective Early continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) may reduce lung injury in preterm infants. Patients and methods Spontaneously breathing preterm infants were randomised immediately after birth to nasal CPAP or intubation, surfactant treatment and mechanical ventilation. Pulmonary function tests approximately 8 weeks post-term determined tidal breathing parameters, respiratory mechanics and functional residual capacity (FRC). Results Seventeen infants received CPAP and 22 mechanical ventilation. Infants with early CPAP had less mechanical ventilation (4 vs 7.5 days; p=0.004) and less total respiratory support (30 vs 47 days; p=0.017). Post-term the CPAP group had lower respiratory rate (41 vs 48/min; p=0.007), lower minute ventilation (223 vs 265 ml/min/kg; p=0.009), better respiratory compliance (0.99 vs 0.82 ml/cm H(2)O/kg; p=0.008) and improved elastic work of breathing (p=0.004). No differences in FRC were found. Conclusions Early CPAP is feasible, shortens the duration of respiratory support and results in improved lung mechanics and decreased work of breathing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim It takes several minutes for infants to become pink after birth. Preductal oxygen saturation (SpO2) measurements are used to guide the delivery of supplemental oxygen to newly born infants, but pulse oximetry is not available in many parts of the world. We explored whether the pinkness of an infant's tongue provided a useful indication that supplemental oxygen was required. Methods This was a prospective observational study of infants delivered by Caesarean section. Simultaneous recording of SpO2 and visual assessment of whether the tongue was pink or not was made at 1-7 and 10 min after birth. Results The 38 midwives and seven paediatric trainees carried out 271 paired assessments on 68 infants with a mean ( SD) birthweight of 3214 (545) grams and gestational age of 38 (2) weeks. When the infant did not have a pink tongue, this predicted SpO2 of <70% with a sensitivity of 26% and a specificity of 96%. Conclusion Tongue colour was a specific but insensitive sign that indicated when SpO2 was <70%. When the tongue is pink, it is likely that an infant has an SpO2 of more than 70% and does not require supplemental oxygen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]