Newborn babies who struggle to breathe at Langley Memorial Hospital are given a better start, thanks to the generosity of TB Vets donors.
Neonatal respiratory failure is a serious condition that can result to death. If a baby is born prematurely, their lungs are underdeveloped and they have limited muscle strength and energy for breathing. Therefore, ventilation is required to stabilize the infant and make transportation by ambulance possible.
Old vs. new respiratory equipment
The maternity unity at Langley Memorial Hospital had previously been using a machine called a “Bubble CPAP”, but this required respiratory therapists (RT) to give breath to the baby manually.
The new infant ventilator provided by TB Vets (called a “Servo-n Ventilator”) comfortably synchronizes with the baby’s breathing, knows when to deliver pressure, and does so consistently. It compensates for leaks and can be used on an intubated infant, which the previous machine is not capable of. With this new ventilator, RTs can focus more on caring for infant patients.
Approximately two to three infants at Langley Memorial Hospital require respiratory support and transportation each month. As technology advances, so does hospital equipment. With your TB Vets donations, frontline medical teams have the current tools they need to save precious lives.*
