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)