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Baby Friendly Ventilation – research

The objective of the Baby Friendly Ventilation Study group is to study different respiratory support modes in order to optimize the given support.

The study group operates at the NICU of the Turku University Hospital. The main topics of our research are:

  • Control of breathing
  • Work of breathing during different respiratory support modes
  • The effect of different ventilator modes on infant's physiology
  • The effect of different medications on breathing
  • The effect of the implementation of NAVA ventilation on different clinical outcomes.

The respiratory centre in the brainstem controls breathing by sending an impulse to the diaphragm via the phrenic nerve to activate the diaphragm. NAVA ventilation is based on the continuous measurement of this electrical activity with a special nasogastric tube (EAdi catheter) including miniature electrodes.

The EAdi signal is amplified, digitalized and filtered and transmitted to the ventilator. The signal is then used as a neural trigger for each breath resulting in better synchrony between the patient and the ventilator. In NAVA ventilation, the patient also controls the respiratory frequency, inspiratory time, inspiratory pressure and the termination of breath.

The Baby Friendly Ventilation Study Group:

Vilhelmiina Parikka

Neonatologi, LT

Arata Oda

Neonatologi, LL

Heli Mäntylä

Tutkimushoitaja

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