Neonatal & Pediatric Respiratory Care

Neonatal & Pediatric Foundations

Neonatal and pediatric terminology, why neonatal care differs anatomically, the three fetal shunts (ductus venosus, ductus arteriosus, foramen ovale) and prostaglandin, maternal risk factors, the placenta, and fetal assessment tests (amniocentesis, L/S ratio, phosphatidylglycerol, fetal heart rate and decelerations, umbilical cord, and delivery).

The Newborn Assessment & RDS

Post-birth evaluation, lung development, meconium and resuscitation, neonatal oxygen therapy targets, the APGAR and Ballard scores, weight classifications, the Colorado intrauterine growth chart, the Silverman score, the signs and treatment of respiratory distress syndrome, surfactant deficiency and replacement therapy, blood gas/saturation targets, pre- and post-ductal monitoring, the capillary stick, and pediatric assessment.

Neonatal & Pediatric Disease Processes

Pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, and treatment of RDS, transient tachypnea of the newborn, apnea of prematurity, persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, meconium aspiration syndrome, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, retinopathy of prematurity, pulmonary interstitial emphysema, gastroschisis, necrotizing enterocolitis, SIDS, GERD, bronchiolitis, croup, epiglottitis, and cystic fibrosis.

Conventional Mechanical Ventilation

NCPAP/NIV indications and contraindications, neonatal versus pediatric physiology and respiratory time constants, infant ventilators and pneumotachography, initial application, conventional ventilator settings (PIP, PEEP, delta P, tidal volume, rate, inspiratory time, FiO₂), AARC indications and hazards for intubation, air leak syndromes, monitoring, and assessment of outcome.

High-Frequency Ventilation

Principles and indications of high-frequency ventilation, HFOV versus HFJV, the five gas-transport mechanisms (spike formation, helical diffusion, Taylor dispersion, pendelluft ventilation, molecular diffusion), HFOV settings (bias flow, MAP, amplitude/∆P, frequency, I-time, FiO₂), HFJV settings, and servo pressure.

Neonatal & Pediatric Respiratory Equipment

Transcutaneous monitoring of PtcO₂ and PtcCO₂, inhaled nitric oxide delivery and weaning, ECMO (VA and VV), incubators and radiant warmers, oxygen-delivery devices for neonates and pediatrics, endotracheal tube sizing formulas, high-flow nasal cannula, air/oxygen blenders, bag-mask and bronchodilator delivery, and the Aerogen nebulizer.

Module Overview & Mock Exam

Cumulative review of neonatal and pediatric assessment, the major disease processes, conventional and high-frequency ventilation, and neonatal/pediatric respiratory equipment, with a 50-question mock exam.