Our intensive care unit has been recognized by the National Institute of Health for its extremely low incidence of chronic lung disease. For newborns, the therapy is not unlike returning the infant to his mother's placenta, for a more gradual transition to breathing air. Since 1982, the Center for Extracorporeal Life Support at the Children's Hospital has been directed by Dr. Charles Stolar in the Division of Pediatric Surgery. The Center was the third in the world to successfully support a neonate. However, ECMO is only part of the respiratory care strategy in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, which is itself a unique resource.
Respiratory failure is the most common cause of death and complications in the newborn.
We have a particular interest in newborns with congenital diaphragmatic hernia. Major contributions have been made by our staff to fields of neonatal parenteral and enteral nutrition. In our neonatal unit the Nutrition Support Service is strongly represented on a daily basis. There is a neonatal nutritionist and a neonatologist that specializes in nutrition research. The nutritionist is an integral part of the neonatal team.