Neonatal respiratory problems Flashcards
What are 6 signs of respiratory distress in newborn infants?
- Tachypnoea (>60 RR)
- Laboured breathing
- Chest wall recession (particularly sternal and subcostal indrawing)
- Nasal flaring
- Expiratory grunting
- Cyanosis if severe
What is the definition of tachypnoea in a neonate?
>60 bpm
What is the commonest cause of respiratory distress in term infants?
transient tachypnoea of the newborn
What are 2 groups of causing of respiratory distress in term infants?
- Pulmonary
- Non-pulmonary
What are 7 pulmonary causes of respiratory distress in term infants?
- Transient tachypnoea of the newborn
- Meconium aspiration
- Pneumonia
- Respiratory distress syndrome
- Pneumothorax
- Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn
- Milk aspiration
What are 5 rare causes of respiratory distress in term infants?
- Diaphragmatic hernia
- Tracheo-oesophageal fistula
- Pulmonary hypoplasia
- Airways obstruction e.g. choanal atresia
- Pulmonary haemorrhage
What are 4 non-pulmonary causes of respiratory distress in term infants?
- Congenital heart disease
- Hypoxic-ischaemic/ neonatal encephalopathy
- Severe anaemia
- Metabolic acidosis
What are 5 investigations that must be performed on all newborn infants with respiratory distress?
- Monitor heart rate
- Monitor respiratory rate
- Monitor oxygenation
- Monitor circulation
- Chest x-ray - to help identify cause needing immediate treatment e.g. pneumothorax or diaphragmatic hernia
What is the management of all infants with respiratory distress?
- Admit to neonatal unit
- Additional ambient oxygne, respiratory support as required
- non-invasive: CPAP or high-flow nasal cannula therapy
- mechanical ventilation and circulatory support
What causes transient tachypnoea of the newborn?
delay in the resorption of lung liquid
What factor increases the likelihood of transient tachypnoea of the newborn?
caesarean section
What are 2 types of causes of respiratory distress in neonates that can be identified by x-ray and require immediate treatment?
- Pneumothorax
- Diaphragmatic hernia
What may be seen on the chest x-ray in transient tachypnoea of the newborn?
fluid in the horizontal fissure
What management of transient tachypnoea of the newborn may be required?
additional ambient oxygen
What is the usual outcome of transient tachypnoea of the newborn?
usually settles wtihin first day of life, can take several days to resolve completely
How is a diagnosis of transient tachypnoea of the newborn made?
after consideration and exclusion of other causes such as infection
In what proportion of babies is meconium passed before birth?
8-20% (rarely by preterm infants)
What increases the likelihood of passing meconium before birth?
greater gestational age (20-25% by 42 weeks)
What can trigger the passing of meconium?
may be passed in response to fetal hypoxia
How does aspiration of meconium come about?
asphyxiated infants may start gasping and aspirate meconium before or at delivery
What are 3 effects of meconium aspiration?
- Mechanical obstruction
- Chemical pneumonitis - irritant to the lungs
- Predisposes to infection
What are 3 things that may be seen on chest x-ray in meconium aspiration?
- Overinflation of lungs
- Patches of collapse and consolidation
- High incidence of air leak, leading to pneumothorax and pneumomediastinum