David George Bartle

Abstract Introduction Intubation is most often performed electively by anaesthetists in controlled conditions in operating theatres. In neonates, however, it is most often performed by neonatologists or paediatricians in urgent circumstances in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) or delivery room (DR). Neonatal intubation is a difficult skill to learn and maintain, and success rates are suboptimal both in the NICU and DR.

A male infant was delivered spontaneously at 29+3 weeks and transferred to the local neonatal unit for uplift in care. This included 24 hours of ventilation, 12 hours of dobutamine and placement of a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) for total parenteral nutrition (TPN). By 24 hours he was extubated onto Optiflow at 6 L/min and Fraction of Inspired Oxygen (FiO ) of 0.21. Expressed breastmilk was commenced whilst awaiting PICC placement.