Respiratory Function Monitoring and Visual Attention in Resuscitating Term Infants: A Manikin-Based Randomised Crossover Trial

Aim: Determine the effect of Respiratory Function Monitor (RFM) use on the time taken to provide 30 s of effective positive pressure ventilation (PPV) in a simulated newborn-term resuscitation. Methods: Randomised crossover trial conducted at Cork University Maternity Hospital (Ireland). Participants performed two simulated manikin resuscitations with and without a RFM visible. Visual attention (VA) of the participants was assessed for each arm. Results: Thirty clinicians were enrolled (n = 30). Data was incomplete for two participants in the RFM visible (RFMv) arm, and one participant did not complete the task when the RFM was not visible (RFMnv).The median time taken to provide 30 s of effective PPV when RFMnv was 73.1 (IQR 53.9–106.1) seconds compared to 71.9 (IQR 46.4–116.1) seconds (p = 0.294) with RFMv. There was no significant difference in mean tidal volume (RFMnv 4.1 mL/kg to RFMv 4.6 mL/kg, p = 0.773). There was no statistically significant reduction in mask leak when RFMv (71.5% to 59.5%, p = 0.053). The median percentage VA spent on the manikin decreased from 81.3% when RFMnv to 59.5% with RFMv (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Using an RFM in a simulated term manikin resuscitation did not decrease the time taken to provide 30 s of effective PPV.