The Incubator #203 - The Giants of Neonatology - Fighting for Air (Pr. Ola Didrik Saugstad)
In this episode of The Incubator podcast, hosts Ben Courchia and Daphna Yasova Barbeau interview Professor Ola Didrik Saugstad, a pioneer in neonatology research from Norway. Professor Saugstad shares his journey of discovering hypoxanthine as a biochemical marker of asphyxia in newborns and his groundbreaking work on resuscitating babies with room air instead of 100% oxygen. He explains how his research challenged the long-standing dogma of using pure oxygen for resuscitation, despite initial skepticism from the medical community. Through his perseverance and collaboration with international researchers, Professor Saugstad's findings eventually led to a paradigm shift in neonatal resuscitation guidelines worldwide. He emphasizes the importance of being open to new ideas, conducting rigorous studies, and fostering teamwork in research. The conversation also touches on the challenges of conducting clinical trials in an era of increasing complexity and the need for ongoing international collaboration to address unanswered questions in neonatology, particularly regarding optimal oxygen use in preterm infants. Professor Saugstad's inspiring story highlights the impact that dedicated researchers can have on improving care for the most vulnerable patients.
As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below.
Enjoy!