Chest PT on newborns post delivery

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There has been some recent controversy regarding whether the practice of performing chest PT on newborns after delivery is harmful. Currently where I practice when some infants present with coorifice LS after delivery we will perform gentle CPT to the affected lobes for approx 30 sec. Apparently this is an old school practice. I would like to find recent up to date evidence based literature on the pros and cons regarding this practice. I have only been a nsy RN for a 1 1/2 yrs and any would appreciate any guidance as the safety of my babies is my 1st priority.

Specializes in Obstetrics.

Following this thread... as we also use Chest PT in admitting nursery.

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Like others, I used to practice CPT for wet CSection babies but that was before neopuff. Bottom line it is not part of NRP and shouldn't be practiced. My issue with it is that there is a delay in calling me and in needed care for the baby while an outdated and potentially dangerous therapy is being administered by an RN or RT. If anyone has any articles pertaining to the use of CPT in the DR proving otherwise I would be very interested in reading them.

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Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

We have one NP that does it to wet babies but that person is the only one. I kind of expect a brand new term baby to be a little crackly. If they're not otherwise in distress (or even with mild tachypnea with good sats & no other GFR) I don't worry about it. I usually put them skin to skin with mom, which will splint the chest.

I don't do anything other than regular NRP stim, which most of the time is all it takes.

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