Newborn Life Support 2021: changes in neonatal guidelines

Abstract

A review of neonatal resuscitation guidelines is conducted every 5 years. Due to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, the publication of these recommendations by the European Resuscitation Council has been postponed for 1 year. The purpose of this paper is to present the changes since 2015 and the new algorithm for a clinical use. Ten changes have been approved regarding umbilical cord management, meconium-stained liquor, laryngeal mask, initial inflation pressure, air/oxygen, vascular access, adrenalin, and ethics. The guidelines retain the so-called ABC approach for Airway, Breathing and Circulation. In this ABC approach, the focus is on controlling airway opening and lung ventilation while preserving the thermal balance.