The HeartLight system is a wireless optical sensor within a custom newborn hat to allow quick and accurate HR monitoring. These can get in the way and it is now recommended for many babies to delay cutting the umbilical cord (to ensure more blood enters the baby from the placenta) which often requires the baby to be resuscitated very close to the mother and even between their legs. In the delivery room, ECG and PO systems have a requirement for cables to connect to the main monitors. As a consequence of this and the choice of wavelengths, it can be more difficult to obtain a reliable HR from POs on the limbs, and they typically obtain an HR after 1-2 minutes. However, in newborn babies, and particularly those requiring resuscitation when the HR is low, blood flow is reduced so physiological mechanisms preserve brain and heart blood flow at the expense of other less important organs and limbs. The usual site for transmission PO is the foot or hand. Current ECG systems also require 3 electrodes to be positioned which can delay resuscitation further. Common techniques for monitoring heart rate such as electrocardiography (ECG) and pulse oximetry (PO) were not developed for resuscitation at birth.ĮCG, an established and accurate method of monitoring HR, is rarely used in the delivery room for a number of reasons including difficulty ensuring adhesion to the skin (the baby is wet/covered in vernix) and skin damage in premature babies caused by stripping of the electrodes. However, in simulation studies it has been shown that newborn healthcare providers estimate HR incorrectly in up to 1/3 of cases. HR is most commonly estimated using a stethoscope.

Heart rate (HR) is the most sensitive indicator of resuscitation efficacy. Up to 10% of newborns require some form of resuscitation at birth. Why Should I Register and Submit Results?.

The heartlight saga