Reliable technology for neonatology – the LEONI 4 in use at AUF DER BULT.

Please briefly introduce yourself. 

I trained in neonatology at the Charité, where I also completed my postdoctoral thesis on specific questions in surfactant research. I have been chief physician at the Children’s and Youth Hospital AUF DER BULT since 2012. Here, I lead the Neonatology Department within the Perinatal Center Hannover. Our largest project was the construction of a Mother-Child Center with our partner DIAKOVERE, which went into operation this October. Our new Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) has 18 fully equipped beds, for which we were able to acquire new ventilators. 

Please explain to our readers with which Löwenstein Medical products you work and since when? 

I have been familiar with the Leoni since the late 2000s. At the Children’s and Youth Hospital, we have also gained experience with other ventilators. After receiving approval for funding for new ventilators, we thoroughly evaluated trial orders of almost all devices available on the market. From this process, a guidebook outlining the essentials and optional features for the preferred device was created. In the end, the Leoni plus, with the option of upgrading to the LEONI 4, came out on top. 

What do you particularly appreciate about Löwenstein products as a user? 

During the selection process, various exclusion criteria were established that the new ventilator had to meet: Closed Loop O₂, SIPAP, NIPPVsync, and CPAPsync. In the “optional features” column, the team wanted a modern design with a touchscreen and non-invasive triggering. 

What is especially important to you beyond the product itself?

The LEONI 4 is new in two ways: every change of equipment is a challenge for the team, and being new on the market, the LEONI 4 is new for everyone. This calls for a competent and readily available contact person at the manufacturer – from staff training and the kick-off to any questions during routine operations or potential malfunctions. And that’s what we have. 

Were there any specific challenges in implementing the Löwenstein products at your hospital? 

We have come very close to having a completely paper-free hospital. This means the devices at the patient’s bedside must be able to communicate extensively with our hospital information system (HIS). All data that the LEONI 4 can transmit flows into our HIS and can be displayed in the electronic medical record on command. Specialists from three areas – Löwenstein Medical, our HIS provider, and our in-house staff – put a lot of effort into this. And they succeeded. 

What makes neonatology so special in the clinical setting, and why do you think Löwenstein’s solutions fit so well in this context? 

We treat newborns who sometimes weigh less than 400 g and sometimes over 5,000 g. This means we’re dealing with more than an order of magnitude in weight differences in neonatology alone. Additionally, respiratory therapy, to give one example, has become increasingly heterogeneous: alongside the conventional invasive ventilation modes and HFO, non-invasive ventilation has gained considerable importance. What used to be only part of weaning has now proven extremely effective in the initial care of severely underweight babies. All of these capabilities must be combined in a single ventilator. 

Would you recommend Löwenstein to other hospitals? 

Of course, every department must carefully weigh such long-term decisions for itself. We have received everything we had hoped for and are very satisfied with it. 

Please complete the sentence, “My first thought when I hear Löwenstein Medical is ... 

…family business and short distances”. 

Professor Guthmann, many thanks for the interview.