Positioning when initially setting up.

Very important to think about how you are going to place your equipment prior to commencing High frequency Oscillation.

• Remember the oscillator must be plugged into the red uninterrupted power supply supply (UPS) at all times
• Place the oscillator to the side of the ponta where the red UPS and Neopuff are located. Allow enough space behind the oscillator for someone to fit behind it.
• Make sure you can easily access the neopuff.
• The incubator or heat table will need to be turned and placed sideways.
• Place the oscillator tubing through the bottom of a heat table or through the top porthole of an incubator.
• Slight elevation of the oscillation tubing is required to assist with rain out and enable good drainage.

Positioning once HFOV is established

Once it is established that the patient is tolerant of being oscillated (not all patients will tolerate HFOV, in some cases a return to conventional ventilation will be indicated), then it is possible to reposition the baby.

• always nurse on a gel mattress
• oscillation and prone positioning more often than not go together.

When repositioning baby:

• use a minimum of two people, more if available
• have one person dedicated for the head and ETT
• have one person dedicated to moving the oscillator into postion