Fig 1. Flow chart of respiratory support in SLI and control group.

After initial oropharyngeal suctioning in case of obvious airway obstruction, respiratory support was started immediately. In SLI group (left) 1 to 3 SLI maneuvers were applied, whereas in control group (right) CPAP and/or PPV was initiated. The upper part of the flow chart shows the different approaches of initial respiratory support of the two groups within the first 3 minutes after birth and the lower part shows the interventions from minute 4 to 15 after birth, which were identical in both groups. CPAP, continuous positive airway pressure; FiO ₂, fraction of inspired oxygen; HR, heart rate (beats per minute); PEEP, positive end exspiratory pressure (cmH₂O); PIP, peak inspiratory pressure (cmH₂O); PPV, positive pressure ventilation; RR, respiratory rate (breaths per minute); SLI, sustained lung inflations.