We are planning to start conventional ventilation in our in our neonatal unit. please give suggestions for choosing a ventilator .

You would want a ventilator that does pressure control and is capable of doing pressure regulated volume control.

Questions I would ask are:

* price (not only the respirator but think also about consumables)

* complexity - if you are just starting with ventilators who will handle them, what is their experience etc.)

* CPAP yes/no

* HFOV or not

* should the ventilator be movable (e.g. possible to use for transport)

* what size of children do you want to ventilate: how small? older children too?

narrow down your choice to two machines - test them on the ward before buying.

If you can afford baby logs I would suggest that. We use servoi in our place but I've worked with both and I prefer babylogs

@drsanjujoseph

You might get some input from reading the Poll thread about ventilators: http://www.99nicu.org/forum/showthread.php?24407-99nicu-Poll-what-ventilators-do-you-use-on-your-ward

I have to say. First, do you have the experience to use conventional and non-conventional therapy. If yes. I suggest to take a good look at the VN 500 from Draeger. It will do all therapy with one piece of equipment. nCpap, conventional, HFV and oxygen therapy like high flow NC, oxyhood and heated trach masks. We been using them for a year and happy. No more 3100A, no more changing circuits if HFV needed or changing out of equipment. I feel our really sick babies benefit from this. We don't need to disturb to change to non-conventional mode, not to mention the cost of changing circuits for the 3100A. If looking for basic then Drager babylog 8000 with VG option. Good luck.

I think that you can to buy another respirators to conventional ventilation and non-invasive, and another to HFOV (for instance Sensor Medics).

And I think that respirator only recomended to newborn is better than to all age.

It is all about the NICU, staff and economics. Any person (doc or staff) will accommodate to any ventilator as time goes on. Try Schiller (sophie), Puritan and Bennet.

We have a fleet of VN 500, babylogs and servo I. The VN's are our first choice for our babies because of the ease of hfo and the proximal flow sensor.