Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Neonatal
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Basics
Description
- Neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS) is a disorder primarily of prematurity manifest by respiratory distress.
- System(s) affected: respiratory
- Synonym(s): hyaline membrane disease; surfactant deficiency
A disorder of the neonatal period
Epidemiology
Incidence
- >90% incidence in infants born ≤28 weeks’ gestation
- 1% all newborns, 10% of preterm infants
- Inversely proportional to gestational age
- Gender: slight male predominance
- Eighth leading cause of infant death in United States in 2019: 11.3 infant deaths per 100,000 live births (1)
Etiology and Pathophysiology
- Impaired surfactant synthesis and secretion
- Usually secondary to deficient surfactant (dipalmitoyl lecithin) production in immature lungs
- Leads to low lung compliance, low lung volume, and increased lung resistance
- High oxygen exposure and barotrauma during treatment can cause further damage to alveolar epithelium.
Genetics
No known genetic pattern
Risk Factors
- Premature birth
- Infants of diabetic mothers
- Perinatal asphyxia
- History of RDS in a sibling
- Cesarean delivery
General Prevention
- Prevention of premature birth:
- Education
- Regular prenatal care
- Management of maternal medical conditions
- Promote healthy behaviors during pregnancy focusing on:
- Diet
- Exercise
- Avoidance of exposure to tobacco smoke, alcohol, and illegal drugs
- Antenatal corticosteroids: for women at risk for preterm delivery within 7 days and are between 24 0/7 and 33 6/7 weeks’ gestation, including those with ruptured membranes and multiple gestations (2)
Commonly Associated Conditions
- Patent ductus arteriosus
- Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD)
- Pneumothorax
-- To view the remaining sections of this topic, please log in or purchase a subscription --
Basics
Description
- Neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS) is a disorder primarily of prematurity manifest by respiratory distress.
- System(s) affected: respiratory
- Synonym(s): hyaline membrane disease; surfactant deficiency
A disorder of the neonatal period
Epidemiology
Incidence
- >90% incidence in infants born ≤28 weeks’ gestation
- 1% all newborns, 10% of preterm infants
- Inversely proportional to gestational age
- Gender: slight male predominance
- Eighth leading cause of infant death in United States in 2019: 11.3 infant deaths per 100,000 live births (1)
Etiology and Pathophysiology
- Impaired surfactant synthesis and secretion
- Usually secondary to deficient surfactant (dipalmitoyl lecithin) production in immature lungs
- Leads to low lung compliance, low lung volume, and increased lung resistance
- High oxygen exposure and barotrauma during treatment can cause further damage to alveolar epithelium.
Genetics
No known genetic pattern
Risk Factors
- Premature birth
- Infants of diabetic mothers
- Perinatal asphyxia
- History of RDS in a sibling
- Cesarean delivery
General Prevention
- Prevention of premature birth:
- Education
- Regular prenatal care
- Management of maternal medical conditions
- Promote healthy behaviors during pregnancy focusing on:
- Diet
- Exercise
- Avoidance of exposure to tobacco smoke, alcohol, and illegal drugs
- Antenatal corticosteroids: for women at risk for preterm delivery within 7 days and are between 24 0/7 and 33 6/7 weeks’ gestation, including those with ruptured membranes and multiple gestations (2)
Commonly Associated Conditions
- Patent ductus arteriosus
- Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD)
- Pneumothorax
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