Background: European guidelines recommend the use of pulse oximetry (PO) during newborn resuscitation, especially when there is a need for positive pressure ventilation or supplemental oxygen. The objective was to evaluate (i) to what extent PO was used, (ii) the time and resources spent on the application of PO, and (iii) the proportion of time with a useful PO signal during newborn resuscitation. Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted at Stavanger University Hospital, Norway, between 6 June 2019 and 16 November 2021. Newborn resuscitations were video recorded, and the use of PO during the first ten minutes of resuscitation was recorded and analysed. Results: Of 7466 enrolled newborns, 289 (3.9%) received ventilation at birth. The resuscitation was captured on video in 230 cases, and these newborns were included in the analysis. PO was applied in 222 of 230 (97%) newborns, median (quartiles) 60 (24, 58) seconds after placement on the resuscitation table. The proportion of time used on application and adjustments of PO during ongoing ventilation and during the first ten minutes on the resuscitation table was 30% and 17%, respectively. Median two healthcare providers were involved in the PO application. Video of the PO monitor signal was available in 118 (53%) of the 222 newborns. The proportion of time with a useful PO signal during ventilation and during the first ten minutes on the resuscitation table was 5% and 35%, respectively. Conclusion: In total, 97% of resuscitated newborns had PO applied, in line with resuscitation guidelines. However, the application of PO was time-consuming, and a PO signal was only obtained 5% of the time during positive pressure ventilation.

Background/Objectives: Newborn heart rate is an integral part of resuscitation algorithms, but the impact of ECG monitoring on resuscitative interventions and clinical outcomes has been identified as a knowledge gap. The objective was to evaluate the impact of routine use of dry-electrode ECG in all newborns immediately after birth on time to start positive pressure ventilation (PPV) when indicated. Methods: We conducted a randomized clinical trial from June 2019 to November 2021 at Stavanger University Hospital, Norway. Dry-electrode ECG sensors were applied immediately after birth to all newborns ≥ 34 weeks’ gestation. Randomization determined whether the heart rate display was visible or masked. Time of birth was registered in an observation app. Time to start ventilation was calculated from video recordings. Results: In total, 7343 newborns ≥ 34 weeks’ gestation were enrolled, 4284 in the intervention and 3059 in the control group, and 3.7% and 3.8% received ventilation, respectively. In 171/275 (62%) of the newborns the exact time of birth and a video of the resuscitation were available, for 98 in the intervention and 73 in the control group. Ventilation was provided within 60 s to 44/98 (45%) in the intervention and 24/73 (33%) in the control group, p = 0.12. Time from birth to start of PPV was a median of 66 (44, 102) s in the intervention and 84 (49, 148) s in the control group, p = 0.058. Resuscitated newborns were apneic (74%) or breathing ineffectively (26%) at the start of PPV, and only 36% had a heart rate < 100 beats per minute. Conclusions: The use of dry-electrode ECG heart rate monitoring did not change the proportion of newborns that received ventilation within 60 s after birth, but early termination due to employee protests to video recordings rendered the trial inadequately powered to detect a difference. Breathing status was likely a more important determinant of starting ventilation than bradycardia.