The Centre for the Studies of Asphyxia and Resuscitation

Oxygen is a vital element in the care of preterm infants and has been given more often than any other drug over the past 80 years. Despite this, we know very little about how much or how little oxygen is safe particularly at birth. Preterm birth, or birth before 37 weeks’ gestation, is occurring in 8% of pregnancies in Canada. Preterm birth is associated with many health complications, particularly when the birth happens before 29 weeks’ gestation. At this gestational age, t

Providing effective and gentle respiratory support in the first minutes after birth is one of the most critical—and challenging—tasks in neonatal care. The VOLT trial (Volume-Targeted mask ventilation versus pressure ventilation in preterm infants) was designed to address a fundamental gap in delivery room practice: how to reliably deliver safe tidal volumes during positive pressure ventilation (PPV) immediately after birth. Why does this matter? When preterm infants fail to

Reflections, gratitude, and lasting impressions The educational tour through Pakistan was an intense, rewarding, and deeply meaningful experience. Over several days, I had the privilege of engaging with clinicians, nurses, educators, and leaders across multiple institutions in Karachi and Lahore, all united by a shared commitment to improving outcomes for newborn infants. Education, exchange, and collaboration The program focused on neonatal resuscitation and respiratory sup

Final stops: leadership, learning, and lasting connections The educational tour through Pakistan concluded with two meaningful and impactful visits in Lahore , bringing together academic leadership, bedside care, and practical discussions on neonatal respiratory support. Fatima Jinnah Medical University Our first visit was to Fatima Jinnah Medical University , where we were warmly received by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Khalid Masood Gondal . The visit included the inaugur

Lahore: focused discussion, hands-on learning, and bedside exchange The educational tour continued on Thursday in Lahore , beginning with a compact, highly interactive meeting held at the Pearl Continental Hotel . Around 70 participants joined for a day dedicated to practical, evidence-informed neonatal respiratory care. Thursday: Conference and Workshops The program covered key themes across the continuum of care, including: Oxygen use at birth Neonatal resuscitation Nasal C

Grand Rounds, global trials, and closing the Karachi chapter Part 3 of the educational tour brought us to Aga Khan University Hospital , where the program was expertly organized and hosted by Dr. Ali Hussain and Dr. Waqar Khowaja . It was particularly meaningful to reconnect with Dr. Ali Hussain , a former neonatal fellow who trained in Edmonton, underscoring the strength of long-standing international training links and collaborations. Weekly Grand Rounds: from evidence to

Connecting practice, evidence, and experience across institutions Part 2 of the educational tour through Pakistan took us to two outstanding clinical centers, each offering a unique perspective on neonatal care while sharing a common commitment to improving outcomes for newborns. Stop 1: Liaquat National Hospital The first visit of the day was to Liaquat National Hospital and Medical College and was expertly organized by the local team. We met with an engaged and highly expe

Learning together to strengthen neonatal care Today marked the beginning of an inspiring educational tour through Pakistan. I had the privilege of visiting the Sindh Institute of Child Health and Neonatology , where I received a very warm welcome from Dr. Rehan , Dr. Raza , and their dedicated multidisciplinary team. I was invited by Fisher & Paykel Healthcare to join them for a week of education focused on neonatal resuscitation and non-invasive respiratory support, includi

What is already known Current neonatal resuscitation guidelines recommend delivering chest compressions (CC) over the lower third of the sternum , a recommendation largely derived from imaging studies in older infants and children , with very limited newborn-specific data. What this study adds Using transthoracic echocardiographic mapping in healthy term newborns , we found that the left ventricle (LV) is consistently located at the inter-nipple line along the 4th–5th left s

Vasopressin vs Epinephrine during cardiopulmonary resuscitation of asphyxiated newborns – a cluster randomized controlled phase I trial Introduction Current neonatal resuscitation guidelines recommend the use of epinephrine during neonatal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). However, newborns receiving epinephrine continue to have high rates of mortality and neurodevelopmental disability. The infrequent need for neonatal CPR, coupled with an inability to consistently anticip