Preterm Babies Flashcards
What are some of the respiratory complications of prematurity?
RDS
Apnoea of Prematurity
Bronchopulmonary dysplasia
What is the primary and secondary pathology in RDS?
Primary: surfactant deficiency and structural immaturity
Secondary: alveolar damage, formation of exudate from leaky capillaries, inflammation, repair
How common is RDS?
75% of infants before 29wks
How does RDS present?
Shortly after birth with:
Tachypnoea Grunting Intercostal recessions Nasal flaring Cyanosis
Worsens over mins-hrs
What is the clinical course of RDS?
- As disease progresses, baby may develop ventilatory failure (rising CO2) and aponea
- Clinical course 2-3days whether tx or not
What is the tx of RDS?
Maternal steroid
Surfactant
Ventilation (CPAP)
What does RDS look like on CXR?
“ground glass” appearance
Air bronchograms
What are the complications of RDS?
Pneumothorax
Lung collapse
Mediastinal shift
Chronic lung disease (O2 requirement at 28days of life)
What is the definition of aponea of prematurity?
Cessation of breathing by a premature infant that lasts >20s for is accompanied by hypoxia or bradycardia
What are the underlying causes of apnea of immaturity?
Obstructive (baby’s neck flexed)
Central (lack of resp effort)
Mixed
What is the pathophysiology of apnea of immaturity?
- Ventilatory drive is dependent on response to increasing CO2 levels and acid in the blood.
- Hypoxia is a secondary stimulus.
- Responses to these stimuli are impaired in premature infants due to immaturity of specialised regions in brain that sense these changes
What is the tx of apnea of prematurity?
Caffeine
CPAP
How does pneumothorax in the premature infant arise and what is the tx?
- In RDS air from over distended alveoli track into interstitial, results in pulmonary interstitial emphysema
- In up to 10% infants ventilated for RDS: pneumothorax
- Tx: chest drain for tension pneumothorax
What is bronchopulmonary dysplasia?
“chronic lung disease”
Babies still require oxygen >36wks
How does bronchopulmonary dysplasia arise?
Lung damage comes from pressure and volume trauma from artificial ventilation, oxygen toxicity and infection
What does a CXR show in bronchopulmonary dysplasia?
- Widespread areas of opacification, sometimes with cystic changes
- Fibrosis and lung collapse
- Overdistension of lungs
What does hypothermia lead to in a premature baby?
Increased energy consumption
Hypoxia and hypoglycaemia
Failure to gain weight
Increased mortality
Why are preterm infants at an increased risk of hypothermia?
- Large S.A to vol ratio, therefore greater heat loss.
- Skin is thin and heat permeable so transepidermal water loss in first week of life.
- Little subcut fat for insulation
- Nursed naked and cannot conserve heat by shivering
How can heat loss be prevented in newborns
- CONVECTION
- clothing, incubator - RADIATION
- cover baby, double walls for incubators - EVAPORATION
- dry and wrap at birth, place in plastic bag - CONDUCTION
- nurse on heated matress
What happens to the ductus arteriosus during development and at birth?
Development: DA kept open by vasodilator prostaglandin E2 made by placenta & DA itself.
At birth:
- O2 levels increase, lungs become source of oxygenated blood, E2 levels fall and DA closes.
- Lungs produce bradykinin to help close off DA (day 1)
What are the CV complications of prematurity?
PDA
Systemic hypotension
What is the pathophysiology of PDA?
- Classed as acyanotic, however when atrial pressure increases, can result in a R–>L shunt and cyanosis in lower extremities.
- Connection between pulmonary trunk and descending aorta.
What is the association with PDA?
- More common in premature infants
- Associated with PDA in first trimester
What are the clinical signs/symptoms in PDA?
Left subclavian thrill Continuous 'machinery' murmur Large vol, bounding, collapsing pulse Wide pulse pressure Heaving apex beat