Minerva pediatrica
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The authors evaluate the use of data supplied by common systems used to calculate respiratory mechanics in newborns in order to analyse the impact on the management of patients requiring assisted ventilation. Over the past few years, the sale of respiratory monitors that are easier to use and less complicated to manage, as well as being less expensive, has meant that nearly every Neonatal ICU can now determine, in real time, both the causes of respiratory insufficiency and the conditions of the newborn lung during mechanical ventilation to ensure improved adaptation of ventilatory support. ⋯ The experience described concerns the impression of clinicians, skilled in the management of patients receiving conventional artificial ventilation but not so attracted by respiratory physiopathology, regarding the value of such instruments. The unanimous positive opinion confirms the thesis whereby respiratory monitoring can certainly help the neonatologist make a real time evaluation of both the causes leading to respiratory failure and the effect on the lung of any therapeutic decisions.