NICU
Oxygen Management / Respiratory Care
Oscillator
An oscillator is a more recent version of a ventilator that keeps the lungs open with a constant positive end-expiratiory pressure, also referred to as 'PEEP'. What is different between this and a ventilator is that while the ventilator will inflate and deflate the baby's lungs, simulating breathing, an oscillator will vibrate the oxygen at a very high pace. This allows for gasses in the airway to be diffused rapidly and efficiently. By doing so, there is far less risk for damage to the lungs when exposed to the oscillator for longer periods of time.
Each infant presents a specific condition and case, and an oscillator may or may not be the best choice fr the infant. It definitely can make caring for critically ill infants much safer and much easier.