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Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD; part of the spectrum of chronic lung disease of infancy) is a chronic lung disease which affects premature infants. Premature (preterm) infants who require treatment with supplemental oxygen or require long-term oxygen are at a higher risk. [ 1 ]
The lungs of infants with respiratory distress syndrome are developmentally deficient in a material called surfactant, which helps prevent the collapse of the terminal air spaces (the future site of alveolar development) throughout the normal cycle of inhalation and exhalation. This deficiency of surfactant is related to inhibition from the ...
The development of the respiratory system begins at about week 4 of gestation. By week 28, enough alveoli have matured that a baby born prematurely at this time can usually breathe on its own. The respiratory system, however, is not fully developed until early childhood, when a full complement of mature alveoli is present.
Antenatal steroids have also been shown to have definite beneficial effect in treating the condition of preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM). [8] Similar to its effects on preterm birth, research evidence suggests that the administration of antenatal steroids to patients with PPROM reduces risks of neonatal mortality, intraventricular hemorrhage and respiratory distress syndrome.
The lungs may also appear hyperinflated. [5] It is a diagnosis of exclusion as it is a benign condition that can have symptoms and signs similar to more serious syndromes, such as respiratory distress or meconium aspiration. [2] In distinction to transient tachypnea, respiratory distress syndrome is more common in premature infants.
Wilson–Mikity syndrome, a form of chronic lung disease (CLD) that exists only in premature infants, leads to progressive or immediate development of respiratory distress. [ 2 ] [ 3 ] This rare condition affects low birth babies and is characterized by rapid development of lung emphysema after birth, requiring prolonged ventilation and oxygen ...
The lecithin–sphingomyelin ratio is a marker of fetal lung maturity. The outward flow of pulmonary secretions from the fetal lungs into the amniotic fluid maintains the level of lecithin and sphingomyelin equally until 32–33 weeks gestation, when the lecithin concentration begins to increase significantly while sphingomyelin remains nearly the same.
John Allen Clements (March 16, 1923 – September 3, 2024) was an American physician and physiologist known for his role in the discovery of pulmonary surfactant, a crucial factor in the development of life-saving treatments for neonatal respiratory distress syndrome. His research revolutionized the care of premature infants, greatly reducing ...