Edmonton doctors saving more babies with new technique

Researchers based out of the University of Alberta Hospital say theyve found a new and improved method for resuscitating pre-term infants in distress, allowing them to save eight babies who otherwise could have died.

About 10 per cent of babies in Alberta are born premature, says research team member Georg Schmolzer. Of those, one of out 10 typically will require chest compressions to establish a regular, healthy heartbeat.

The traditional resuscitation technique used by health professions is three chest compressions followed by a breath which requires two people to synchronize their actions and maintain a consistent rhythm for several minutes.

There's a few problems, said Schmolzer. If I have a partner that has never done that before, I'm not really good at synchronization.

Pausing compressions to allow for breathing time can also make it difficult to administer the recommended 90 compressions per minute.

The new technique, however, sees one partner delivering continuous chest compressions while a second person holds an oxygen supply to the babys face and counts compressions, requiring less exacting co-ordination by the pair.

The blood flows faster to important organs like the brain, so we see more blood is going to the brain. We need less oxygen to give to the baby, which is important, Schmolzer said.

It also allows health staff to forego administering drugs such as epinephrine, which are traditionally used to kick-start the heart, he added.

Experience shows the new technique takes half as long to raise a babys heart rate compared to the average three minutes the traditional method requires and also has a higher survival rate and shorter recovery time.

A life saved

The new technique,now in a clinical trial phase, has already saved eight babies including Brooklyn Dewhearst.

Brooklyn and her twin were born two months early to parents Brian and Shauna Dewhurst at the Royal Alexandra Hospital, which is part of the pilot program.

While doctors were not able to save the twin, theysaved Brooklyns life with the new technique.

It made sure our daughter is here, and I think it's great. Pretty amazing. said Brian Dewhearst.

We were well aware of what could happen and what couldnt happen We were very assured that they were going to do what they could, and they did everything that they could do to help out, he said.

Now, the parents say they are hoping for a quick recovery so the family can return home to Grande Prairie.

As for the research team behind the novel resuscitation team, they say hospital staff in Edmonton are already adjusting well to the new practice.

In the future, Schmolzer hopes to see the technique spread beyond Edmonton.