A clinical trial led by Monash University's School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, with Hudson Institute of Medical Research and Monash Children's Hospital, has found that using a nasal mask instead of a traditional face mask for supporting very premature infants at birth significantly reduces the need for emergency breathing assistance and intervention.
Published today in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, the FONDUE trial ("Face mask versus nasal mask device use for initial resuscitation in extremely and very premature infants") involved 151 newborns born between 23 and 31 weeks' gestation at Monash Children's Hospital.