PRANA PRATYAGAMANA WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO NEONATAL RESUSCITATION

Abstract

Aim of this article is to review Ayurvedic principles of pranapratyagamana (Resuscitation) for sick new born care in the delivery room and relate them to modern neonatology practices. Neonatology as we know today is relatively new clinical science. Interestingly however Ayurveda, the authentic Indian medicine had already described in detail the principles of new born care 5,500 years ago (circa 3500BC) in Kaumarbhritya the science of pediatrics. The term pranapratyagamana used in charak samhita is very much similar to resuscitation. The word “Prana” besides breath (respiration) the “Pratyagamana” is “coming back or arrival” over all the word “Pranapratyagamana” of Ayurveda means much beyond the establishment of respiration only. It is defined as reappearance of prana by respiratory effort, heartbeat, body movements in apparently dead baby. American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)1 developed a neonatal resuscitation program which has shown to protect and prevent harmful effects on the vital organs of the body due to perinatal asphyxia and ischemia. A weak fetal heart of less than 100 beats/minute or its irregularity during the late stage of labor is a sign of progressive asphyxia that will need resuscitative measures.