For an at-risk infant, major areas of concern are temperature control, incubation and ventilation. We utilise a complete array of advanced technology and modern medical devices to provide life-saving support to babies born in critical condition.

The state-of-the-art Neonatal Intensive Care Unit is 24 bedded with 9 ventilators and all warmers from Fischer & Paykel. The ventilators have all high frequency options. Babylog 8000 HFO, SLE 2000 HFO +, and Bubble CPAP systems from Fisher & Paykel. Volume Ventilation is done in larger babies with Seimens 300 C , Nitric Oxide Delivery systems are incorporated with Seimens 300C and also with separate stand alone units. Complex monitoring of all ventilated babies includes invasive blood pressure monitoring and spirometry. Capnography is used in selected cases and an in-house blood gas analyzer adds to the ergonomics of the unit.

Transport Ventilators AIMS began in Kerala with its first transport ventilation of a sick preterm baby weighing 1.2 kilos with suspected pulmonary hemorrhage on 3rd November 2003, through a historic distance of 220 kilometers.Cross vent 4 has been used successfully along with the fully equipped Ford Ambulance

High Frequency Ventilation with in built weighing scales and humidification options up to 99%, incubators are ideal in extremely premature babies. The humidification option comes with built-in infection control devices. AIMS uses Dragger Caleo incubators, the most advanced available in the world.

High Frequency Ventilation is widely used in the US but infrequently used in India. AIMS Neonatology Department currently has 6 ventilators consisting of the following models:

• Dragger Barylog 8000 - CMV + HFO + Graphics
  
• Dedicated high frequency oscillators SLE 2000 HFO
  
• Volume Ventilator Seimens 300c with Graphics
  

Phototherapy is utilised for conditions of hyperbilirubinemia.

The use of respiratory mechanics monitoring, recently developed, vastly improved the complex art of newborn ventilation, ensuring optimum ventilation at controlled pressure and humidity.

End Tidal CO2 Monitors optimise the use of blood gases in small pre-term babies, ensuring adequate gas exchange in critical situations.

Composite Monitors by Space Labs are used for monitoring invasive blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen saturation (SPO2) and non-invasive blood pressure (NIBP) of the central venous system. This is a standard for all ventilated neonatal beds.

Pulse Oximetry and Waveform uses the Nellcor-PB is used for all non-ventilated beds.