Respiratory Distress Syndrome ****

Question 1

Cause?

Answer 1

Deficiency of sufactant

Question 2

What type of baby is this more likely to happen to?

Answer 2

Pre-term babies - not sufficient enough until 34 weeks

Question 3

When does it present?

Answer 3

Within minutes or hours after birth

Question 4

What would you see on X-ray? - 2

Answer 4

Widespread atelectasis with ground glass appearance and air bronchograms

Question 5

S+S - 5

USE SPOT A SICK CHILD WEBSITE

Answer 5

RR>60

Chest wall recession

Grunting - an expiratory groan caused by attempt to maintain positive end expiratory pressure

Head bobbing in young babies

Cyanosis

Question 6

Prevention?

Answer 6

Maternal corticosteroids for deliveries under 37 weeks
This increases fetal surfactant.

Give to mothers at risk of preterm delivery

Question 7

Management if RDS develops

Answer 7

Nasal CPAP

If still distressed, intubate and give surfactant via endotracheal tube

Question 8

DDx - What is transient tachypnoea of the newborn?

When does it usually resolve?

Answer 8

Increased RR due to excess fluid in the lungs

24 hours