| Equipment
When you first enter the NICU, you may feel overwhelmed by the equipment. Keep in
mind that the equipment is specially designed for the tiniest patients to aid in their treatment and progress.
Many of the monitors have alarms to alert the NICU staff of changes. The NICU team is trained to recognize the
meaning of alarms, so please do not be concerned if your baby’s monitors sound. Please feel assured that there
always will be a member of the NICU staff to help. Shands at AGH believes it is important that you bond with
your baby and pay close attention to him/her, not the machines. Please do not feel distracted, worried or
anxious over the equipment used in the NICU. Should your baby have to be admitted to the unit, here are some
descriptions of commonly used equipment in the NICU:
- Radiant/open warmer - your baby may be placed in an open warmer if he/she is not able to
maintain his/her own body temperature. The open warmer uses a heat source placed above the baby with a
temperature probe placed on the baby’s stomach. The heat source acts as a thermostat so that when the baby is
cold, the heat will increase, whereas when the baby is hot, the heat source will decrease.
- Isolette - this is another type of bed that is used to assist in controlling your baby’s
temperature.
- Open crib - When your baby reaches about 4 pounds and is able to maintain his/her body
temperature, the NICU will evaluate his or her progress and place him/her in an open crib. There is no
additional heating source in an open crib; therefore the baby will have to maintain his/her own body
temperature. Sometimes the baby will not be able to do so and will have to be placed in an isolette for a few
days. Maintaining body temperature is one of the criteria that your baby needs to meet in order to go home.
- Heart/respiratory monitors - The most commonly used monitor in the NICU. Three patches are
placed on the baby’s chest and abdomen to measure the baby’s heartbeat and respiratory rate in order to alert
the NICU staff if the rates are too fast, too slow, or irregular.
- Oxygen saturation monitor (pulse oximeter) - measures the amount of oxygen in the baby’s
blood by using a small cuff with a light component and a sensor that is placed around the baby’s foot, hand,
toe or finger (over a heartbeat). The light source passes waves from one side of the cuff through the baby’s
tissue to the other side of the cuff, measuring the percentage of oxygen in the blood. The normal range usually
is between 90 to 100 percent, depending on the baby’s condition. This type of equipment allows the NICU staff to
keep track of the baby’s oxygen saturation without having to obtain a blood sample each time.
- Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) - used for babies who breathe well enough not to
be placed on more invasive forms of respiratory therapy (such as a ventilator), but need extra oxygen and
pressure to keep their lungs inflated. A tube is placed in the baby’s nose delivering extra oxygen or air to the
back of the nose. The pressure produced by the extra oxygen or air is enough to keep the baby’s lungs well
inflated.
- Conventional mechanical ventilator - babies who are too small or too sick to breathe well enough on their
own may be placed on a ventilator (also known as a respirator). In this situation, an endotracheal tube
(ET tube) is passed through the baby’s nose or mouth into the trachea (windpipes) to deliver oxygen directly
into the baby’s lungs to help them breathe and to keep the lungs inflated. As the baby improves, he/she will be
gradually weaned from the respirator until he/she can safely and adequately breathe on his/her own. In some
instances, however, babies who need the help of a ventilator over a long period of time will be transferred to
the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Shands Children's Hospital.
- Home apnea monitor - equipment that is used at home that monitors the breathing rate
(respirations) and heart rate (pulse) of the baby. It is similar to the one used in the hospital, but is much
smaller. Leads are attached to the baby’s chest with soft foam wraps or with adhesives. When the baby’s
respirations fall below a certain range, alarms sound to alert the parents.
- Bili light/bili blanket (phototherapy) - a way to treat newborn jaundice utilizing a blue
light that converts bilirubin so that it can be excreted in the feces. Soft eye shields are placed on the baby
to protect their eyes from damage due to the bili lights.
Information
For more information about Maternal/Child Services at Shands AGH,
please call 352.733.0165.
|
News
SHANDS ARTS IN MEDICINE PROGRAM FEATURED IN DOCUMENTARY AIRING ON PBS THIS SUMMER
SHANDS AT UF BECOMES PRIMARY STROKE CENTER, EARNS NATIONAL RECOGNITION
SHANDS HEALTHCARE HOSPITALS EARN TOP MARKS IN NATIONAL PATIENT-SATISFACTION SCORES
|
