Neonatal resuscitation in the deliveryroom of small obstetric units is problematic because of the lack of on-site personnel with adequate training and experience.

In large university hospitals this task is usually fulfilled by neonatologists who are present 24 h/day.

However, in medium-sized and small obstetric units neonatal resuscitation is performed by a variety of professionals: paediatricians, obstetricians, anaesthetists, midwives, nurses, and nurse anaesthetists.

The degree of responsibility and involvement of the anaesthesia specialist in the resuscitation of the newborn in Switzerland is unknown, and therefore an investigation was conducted.