History of neonatal resuscitation. Part 1: Artificial ventilation.

The construction of manual ventilators by Hunter, Chaussier, and Gorcy seemed to set the stage for artificial ventilation of the neonate at the end of the 18th century. When Leroy d'Etiolles recognized pneumothorax as a complication of ventilation in 1828, the Paris Academy of Science advised against positive pressure ventilation. Indirect techniques like that of Silvester or the Schultze swingings gained widespread acceptance and prevailed until the First World War. Modern ventilators were developed following the poliomyelitis epidemics in the 20th century. (c) 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel.