Respiratory Disorders

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