ORIGINAL ARTICLES

Potential hazard of the Neopuff T-piece resuscitator in the absence of flow limitation

C P Hawkes, O A Oni, E M Dempsey, C A Ryan

Department of Neonatology, Cork University Maternity Hospital, Cork, Ireland

^{Correspondence to} Professor C A Ryan, Department of Neonatology, Cork University Maternity Hospital, Wilton, Cork, Ireland; tony.ryan{at}hse.ie

Objective: (1) To assess peak inspiratory pressure (PIP), positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) and maximum pressure relief (P_max) at different rates of gas flow, when the Neopuff had been set to function at 5 l/min. (2) To assess maximum PIP and PEEP at a flow rate of 10 l/min with a simulated air leak of 50%.

Design: 5 Neopuffs were set to a PIP of 20, PEEP of 5 and P_max of 30 cm H₂O at a gas flow of 5 l/min. PIP, PEEP and P_max were recorded at flow rates of 10, 15 l/min and maximum flow. Maximum achievable pressures at 10 l/min gas flow, with a 50% air leak, were measured.

Results: At gas flow of 15 l/min, mean PEEP increased to 20 (95% CI 20 to 21), PIP to 28 (95% CI 28 to 29) and the P_max to 40 cm H₂O (95% CI 38 to 42). At maximum flow (85 l/min) a PEEP of 71 (95% CI 51 to 91) and PIP of 92 cm H₂O (95% CI 69 to 115) were generated. At 10 l/min flow, with an air leak of 50%, the maximum PEEP and PIP were 21 (95% CI 19 to 23) and 69 cm H₂O (95% CI 66 to 71).

Conclusions: The maximum pressure relief valve is overridden by increasing the rate of gas flow and potentially harmful PIP and PEEP can be generated. Even in the presence of a 50% gas leak, more than adequate pressures can be provided at 10 l/min gas flow. We recommend the limitation of gas flow to a rate of 10 l/min as an added safety mechanism for this device.

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