Life-Saving Operation: The Technological Revolution in Neonatal ICUs

Anyone entering a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) today might be surprised to see a professional at the bedside using virtual reality glasses to care for a newborn. The device, which allows the doctor to check patient data and follow step-by-step guided procedures in real time without stepping away from the child, is just one of the innovations employed by a national startup to intervene quickly and precisely in critically ill infants. The mission of PBSF, an acronym for Protecting Brains, Saving Futures, is evident in its name. Its goal is to provide the best care for babies who have suffered some degree of oxygen deprivation during or after birth—a condition that affects around 20,000 children annually in Brazil. To support NICUs across the country—and even in other nations—the company relies on a remote monitoring system for vital and brain signals, supported by artificial intelligence (AI).​

Perinatal asphyxia, a condition caused by complications around the time of birth, is fatal in 25% of cases and often leaves various sequelae, from cerebral palsy to blindness and deafness. Preventing or mitigating its damage is critical to ensuring that children have a healthier and fuller life ahead. The central care strategy to avoid the worst outcomes is to bring the newborn to a neonatal ICU and provide the right care at the right time. However, due to a lack of adequate infrastructure and specialized professionals, Brazil struggles to provide the necessary support. This is where initiatives like PBSF make a difference.​

REMOTE MONITORING​

The system and medical team monitor high-risk newborns 24/7 by evaluating vital and brain signals (blood flow, oxygenation, brain electrical activity, among others). All of this, integrated with artificial intelligence, enables the team to identify, even remotely, babies with a higher propensity for neurological injuries and intervene in time.​

AUGMENTED REALITY​

With the support of Microsoft HoloLens 2, mixed reality glasses, doctors can consult real-time information about clinical cases and improve decision-making at the bedside. The device gathers activity lists, protocols, and forms and provides access to audiovisual materials that can guide step-by-step procedures, in addition to capturing images of each stage.​ This is, in fact, a movement gaining prominence worldwide. A pioneering project at the University of South Australia, for example, leverages AI and ultra-sensitive cameras to monitor babies—the idea is even to one day eliminate the need for sensors attached to their skin. For the period leading up to birth, the Albert Einstein Israelite Hospital in São Paulo has implemented Portuguese technology that allows real-time automation and verification of fetal distress, enabling preventive measures. A similar philosophy guides PBSF, which has already assisted nearly 10,000 children. Through a remote monitoring center connected to 49 public and private hospitals, it issues alerts to local teams, monitors the condition of newborns through parameters such as blood flow, oxygenation, and brain electrical activity, and instructs frontline professionals to intervene. “All of this allows for faster case analysis, which consequently improves decision-making,” says neonatologist Gabriel Variane, founder of PBSF. The goal is to minimize the risk of permanent neurological injuries.​

In daily practice, AI algorithms come into play. The software can identify seizures early—a kind of nervous short-circuit that is not always noticeable in premature babies. Even holograms are summoned to the ICU. If a doctor encounters difficulties with a specific procedure, they can use mixed reality glasses, which will project treatment protocols in front of them like a tutorial while keeping their hands free to handle the baby. The aim is to increase the efficiency and uniformity of bedside practices. Additionally, the glasses are internet-connected and can transmit video calls, allowing less experienced professionals to consult and receive guidance from specialists miles away. “Tools that bring immersive healthcare closer help overcome barriers and make care more effective,” says Variane.​

These high-tech operations can save children suffering from seizures, a situation capable of causing irreversible brain damage and not always detected by the human eye in time. According to a PBSF study with 296 monitored babies who experienced a neurological crisis, 72% of cases showed no signs detectable by traditional clinical evaluation. With the startup's tools, however, it was possible to detect and act immediately. The encouraging results, internationally recognized, inspire an ambitious but promising goal: to eliminate the number of children with preventable disabilities worldwide.​