Respiratory Distress Syndrome (1)

Question 1

What occurs here?

Who does it affect?
→ Why’s this group at an increased risk of RDS?

How does it present?

Answer 1

➊ Lack of surfactant, which increases surface tension within alveoli, causing them to collapse → Hypoxia, Hypercapnia, and Respiratory distress

➋ Premature babies
→ Adequate levels of surfactant only produced up to 35 wks

➌ Cyanosed, Rapid shallow breathing, Nasal flaring, Grunting sound when breathing

Question 2

Which investigations should be done?

What is given to manage it before birth?

What is given to manage it after birth?

Answer 2

➊ • Bloods – Check O2 and for infection
• Chest XR – Ground-glass appearance

➋ Corticosteroids (i.e. Dexamethasone) – to increase surfactant production before birth, and subsequently reduce the severity of respiratory distress

➌ Endotracheal surfactant

Question 3

What are the short-term complications?

What are the long-term complications?

Answer 3

➊ Pneumothorax, Infection, Apnoea, Intraventricular or Pulmonary haemorrhage

➋ Chronic lung disease of prematurity, Retinopathy of prematurity, Neurological, hearing and visual impairment