Ventilation-Induced Brain Injury in Preterm Neonates: Mechanisms and Potential Therapies

Premature babies often have trouble breathing at birth. Supporting breathing with mechanical ventilation is lifesaving but unfortunately can injure their immature brains. I aimed to understand brain injury from ventilation immediately at birth and within the neonatal intensive care unit (hours to days after birth), using fetal sheep models. I investigated how ventilation in the delivery room affects the brain and if umbilical cord blood cells are a potential therapy. I also examined what brain changes can be detected after prolonged ventilation. My findings will aid development of interventions to benefit our tiniest babies who need help breathing.