Equipment for recording pulmonary gas exchange immediately after birth during spontaneous breathing and assisted ventilation

Earlier studies of spontaneous breathing and endotracheal tube ventilation immediately after birth have dealt with pulmonary mechanics and, in particular, the functional residual capacity. To evaluate not only the ventilation but also the circulatory adaptation from intrauterine to extrauterine life, we chose to develop equipment for studies of pulmonary gas exchange. Similar equipment has been used to investigate the respiratory and metabolic adaptation after birth during calm breathing at longer time intervals, and the ventilatory and metabolic function of newborn infants during assisted ventilation. The aim was thus to develop equipment for studying pulmonary gas exchange during very short periods after birth of assisted ventilation as well as of spontaneous breathing.