Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS)
Early-onset respiratory distress
Caused by surfactant deficiency and biochemical immaturity
Chest x-ray shows diffuse granular pattern with air bronchograms
Manage with oxygen, CPAP or ventilation with PEEP, and surfactant therapy
Pneumonia
Group B streptococcal pneumonia (most common) can look like RDS on chest x-ray
Treat with ampicillin/aminoglycoside or ampicillin/cefotaxime
Meconium Aspiration Syndrome
Look for history of meconium-stained amniotic fluid
Good suctioning of oropharynx and the trachea via an endotracheal tube in all depressed newborns with thick, particulate meconium
Aspiration pneumonia on chest x-ray
Predisposes to persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborns
TTN
Rapid second stage of labor or delivery by cesarean section
Term newborn
Fluid in fissure on chest x-ray