Physiologic responses to prolonged and slow-rise inflation in the resuscitation of the asphyxiated newborn infant.

Measurements of thoracic volume, inflation pressure, and intrathoracic pressure have been recorded at the resuscitation of nine newborn babies. The initial inflation pressure was maintained for approximately five seconds which produced a twofold increase in inflation volume compared to standard resuscitation techniques and always led to formation of an FRC. When the inflation pressure was increased slowly over three to five seconds, the apparent opening pressure which occurred universally in square wave inflation was rarely seen.