There is now good evidence unpublished and published1,2 that neonatal intensive care is associated with increased survival. The major cause of neonatal mortality is the idiopathic respiratory distress syndrome (IRDS); hence the decrease in neonatal mortality can be ascribed, in part at least, to improvement in the management of infants with this syndrome. The arterial oxygen tension while breathing 100% oxygen has been shown to be the most valuable prognosticator for outcome in this disease;3,4 an oxygen tension less than 100 mm Hg (in 100% oxygen) during the first 24 hours is associated with a markedly increased mortality. Thus central in the management scheme is adequate oxygenation.