NICU
Oxygen Management / Respiratory Care
Nasal Cannula
The following information is from wikipedia: [Source]
 The nasal cannula (NC) is a device used to deliver supplemental oxygen to a patient or person in need of extra oxygen. This device consists of a plastic tube which fits behind the ears, and a set of two prongs which are placed in the nostrils. Oxygen flows from these prongs.
The nasal cannula is connected to an oxygen tank, a portable oxygen generator, or a wall connection in a hospital via a flowmeter. The nasal cannula carries 1–6 litres …

NICU
Oxygen Management / Respiratory Care
CPAP
CPAP stands for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. This common form of infant respiratory care helps a baby breathe by providing a small amount of pressurized air.
Severe respiratory conditions may require a ventilator or oscillator, while less critical infants may be placed on CPAP. This is a mask of sorts that will fit over the baby’s mouth and nose. Straps are often used to secure the mask around the infant’s head.

NICU
Oxygen Management / Respiratory Care
Oscillator
An oscillator is a more recent version of a ventilator that keeps the lungs open with a constant positive end-expiratiory pressure, also referred to as ‘PEEP’. What is different between this and a ventilator is that while the ventilator will inflate and deflate the baby’s lungs, simulating breathing, an oscillator will vibrate the oxygen at a very high pace. This allows for gasses in the airway to be diffused rapidly and efficiently. By doing …

NICU
Oxygen Management / Respiratory Care
Ventilator
A ventilator in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit is a machine that is used to breathe for an infant when the baby is incapable breathing on its own. A ventilator simulates breaths by basically inflating and deflating the infant’s lungs.
Premature babies in particular will not have fully developed their lungs, so the baby must be placed on a respiratory breathing machine, such as a ventilator. This is considered life support.
There are many different types of ventilators in use today, each to accommodate specific NICU …