Funding outcome

Heart rate is the most important parameter to assess if a newborn infant requires resuscitation at birth. Furthermore, changes in the heart rate during resuscitation are used to assess if the interventions provided are successful. Currently the clinical team uses electrocardiography, which uses gel electrodes, which are placed on the infants skin to measure heart rate. However, these electrodes do not always stick to the skin of premature infants because the skin is wet immediately after birth. This causes the clinical team to remove and replace the electrodes to continuously measure heart rate during resuscitation. This removal and replacement of the electrodes can cause skin irritation or skin break down to the skin of premature infants. In addition, it delays potential resuscitation interventions. We have developed an algorithm to measure heart rate using a video camera. The algorithm measures changes in the blood flow in peripheral blood vessels, which occur with every heart beat. We have successfully used this technique in 20 stable infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit and were able to demonstrate that it is feasible to use a video camera to measure heart rate and that is as accurate as electrocardiography. The current study aims to examine this technique in asphyxiated piglets and newborn infants during neonatal resuscitation. If validated, this novel technique can help many babies in Alberta, Canada and the rest of the world.