Respiratory Distress Flashcards
What is neonatal respiratory distress due to?
A lack of surfactant
Who does neonatal respiratory distress affect?
Premature neonates,
Why does neonatal respiratory distress affect premature neonates?
They are born before the lungs start producing adequate surfactant.
What age of neonate does neonatal respiratory distress affect?
Neonates born before 32 weeks
How is neonatal respiratory distress diagnosed?
Clinical evaluation
What can you see on an x-ray in a neonate with respiratory distress?
Ground glass appearance
What is the management of respiratory distress?
Intratracheal instillation of artificial surfactant.
If premature delivery is suspected, what should be given to the mother?
Glucocorticoids before delivery
What is the function of giving glucocorticoids to the mother before delivery of the baby?
They can increase surfactant production in the baby.
What is neonatal respiratory distress a major cause of?
Pre-term infant mortality
When does surfact production start and end?
Starts at 26 weeks gestation
Ends at 35 weeks gestation
How does respiratory distress present?
Respiratory distress shortly after birth which usually worsens over the next few days
What are the characteristic features of respiratory ditress?
Diffuse ground glass lungs
Low volumes
Bell-shaped thorax
What are symptoms of respiratory distress?
Cyanosis
Tachypnoea
Grunting
Sternal recession
What does a lack of surfactant lead to?
Inadequate surfactant leads to high surface tension within alveoli. This leads to atelectasis (lung collapse)
What else can be used in the management of respiratory distress?
Assisted ventilation and monitor saturations — aim for 91-95%
CPAP
What steroids can be given to mothers pre-delivery?
dexamethasone or betamethasone
What are possible complications of respiratory distress?
- chronic lung disease of prematurity
- retinopathy of prematurity (due to oxygen)
- neurological, visual or hearing impairment
What might you see on examination of someone with respiratory distress?
Bell shaped thorax
