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Technology and Procedures in the NICU

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Technology and Procedures in the NICU

Adapted from The Future of Children, Spring 1995, page 141

Environmental Control

  • Incubators
  • Radiant warmers
  • Servo-controlled thermoregulation
  • Heat shields
  • Plastic wrap
  • Humidification
  • Control of noise and light

Vascular Access

  • Umbilical artery/vein catheters
  • Peripheral artery/vein catheters
  • Central venous catheters
  • Infusion and syringe pumps

Physiologic Monitoring

  • Temperature
  • Cardiorespiratory
    • Electrocardiogram
    • Thoracic impedance
    • Apnea/bradycardia alarms
    • Trend monitors
  • Systemic blood presure
    • Oscillometric method
    • Indwelling artery catheter
  • Central venous pressure
    • Oxygenation/ventilation
    • Arterial blood sampling
    • Capillary blood sampling
    • Pulse oximetry
    • Transcutaneous PO2, PCO2
    • End-tidal CO2
  • Pulmonary function testing

Laboratory Testing

  • Micro sampling methods
  • Bedside glucose testing
  • Routine chemistry, hematology, serology
  • Microbiology
  • Pulmonary maturity
  • Genetic analysis
  • Metabolic screening

Diagnostic Imaging

  • Radiography
  • Ultrasonography
  • Doppler echocardiography
  • CT scanning
  • MRI scanning
  • Nuclear medicine scanning

Nutritional Support

  • Parenteral nutrition
  • Enteral feeding techniques
  • Special formulas
  • Breast milk supplements
  • Vitamins
  • Minerals
  • Trace elements

Blood Products

  • Red blood cells
  • White blood cells
  • Platelets
  • Plasma
  • Cryoprecipitate
  • Coagulation factors
  • Irradiation of blood products

Respiratory Support

  • Supplemental oxygen
  • Continuous positive airway pressure
  • Chest physiotherapy
  • Conventional ventilation
  • High-frequency ventilation
  • Surfactant
  • Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

Delivery Room Resuscitation

  • Oxygen by mask
  • Endotracheal tubes
  • Ambu bags
  • Rusch bags
  • Suction catheters
  • Radiant warmers
  • Warm blankets
  • Venous umbilical catheters

Neonatal Pharmacotherapeutics

  • Diuretics
  • Xanthines
  • Steroids
  • Indomethacin
  • Antimicrobials
  • Heparin
  • Vasopressors
  • Sedatives/analgesics

Phototherapy

Neonatal Surgery/Anaesthesia

Psychosocial Interventions

  • Unlimited parental visiting
  • Parental involvement in care
  • Skin-to-skin contact
  • Infant stimulation
  • Reducing noxious stimuli
  • Nonnutritive sucking

Neonatal Transport

  • Skilled transport teams
  • Transport incubator
  • Air/ground transport

Other Diagnostic Testing

  • Electroencephalogram
  • Evoked response audiometry (BAER)

Last Updated on 08/11/22