Overview of assisted ventilation of the newborn

Mechanical ventilation remains an essential part of neonatal intensive care. Intensivists now have at their disposal an array of different equipment and ventilator techniques. This paper provides an brief overview of these techniques and the available evidence to support their use. There are many books and papers on the use of ventilation in the newborn and this paper is intended to provide an introduction to the subject for those with an interest in neonatal ventilation in particular neonatal trainees and general paediatricians.