What is the treatment for babies with respiratory distress syndrome?

If you’re a worried parent of a baby who has recently been diagnosed with respiratory distress syndrome, fear not! You are not alone. This condition affects many newborns around the world and can be treated effectively.

Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is common in premature babies (less than 37 weeks gestation) due to their immature lungs, which lack surfactant. Surfactant helps keep the air sacs in the lungs from collapsing and assists with breathing. Without it, infants have trouble getting enough oxygen into their bloodstream, leading to RDS.

So what treatments are available? Let’s dive into them!

Oxygen Therapy

The first line of treatment for RDS is typically oxygen therapy. Infants may require mechanical ventilation via an endotracheal tube or nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP).

Endotracheal intubation involves inserting a small tube through the mouth or nose down into the windpipe so that oxygen can be delivered directly into the infant’s lungs.

Nasal CPAP provides support without needing an invasive procedure like intubation; instead, it uses small tubes inserted just inside each nostril.

Both methods help to improve lung function by increasing blood oxygen levels and reducing carbon dioxide levels until lungs start producing enough surfactant on their own.

Infants undergoing these treatments will need careful monitoring by trained medical personnel as over-oxygenating may cause retinopathy of prematurity(ROP), which could lead to blindness if left untreated.

Surfactant Replacement Therapy

If low amounts of surfactant production are identified as being at fault for RDS symptoms, doctors may administer exogenous surfactant replacement therapy directly to neonates’ underdeveloped lungs. It’s done either using artificial forms from sources such as cow lung extracts or man-made synthetic analogues.

Surfactant replacement therapy is typically used in tandem with oxygen support therapies like CPAP or mechanical ventilation for a complete RDS treatment.

Some ask, does it have side effects? Like most treatments, surfactant replacement has possible complications such as pneumothorax (collapsed lung) and Apnea(brain condition that can lead to pauses in breathing)

Corticosteroids Injection

In some cases, the mother may be given corticosteroids during pregnancy to help speed up fetal lung development. These maternal steroids serve as preventive measures against prematurity-related indicators like RDS.

If an infant still develops respiratory distress after being born preterm despite this prophylactic measure, doctors may give corticosteroid injections directly into neonates’ bloodstreams.

This targets & helps mature both brain and lungs by reducing inflammation while also increasing surfact production concurrently.

PEEP Therapy

Positive End-Expiratory Pressure (PEEP) is often considered part of standard preventative treatment protocol for premature babies who are highly susceptible Respiratory Distress Syndrome. It promotes healthy functioning of airways by minimizing pressure variations; enough to allow them more acting room but not so much they collapse on themselves completely causing atelectasis.

When administered alongside additional oxygen & ventilator assistance. There’s increased chances of early established critical functions via functional residual capacity increase(The volume occupancy within the alveoli which doesn’t actively take part in gas exchange)

Supportive care

Priority should always be given towards alleviating infants primary symptoms first(In this case difficulty breathing). However there are other forms of supportive cares that act synergistically with designated medical procedures:

Nutrition:

For instance aggressive nutrition efforts – primarily breast milk feeding -, necessary for providing energy required healing scars left from abnormal stressful deliveries,

Helps expedite maturation process whilst enhancing innate immune system simultaneously boosting general well-being all crucial attributes for premies.

During delivery incase you require a C section or have complications – Skin-to-skin contact
You could also take measures to create the most favorable atmosphere necessary for infant recuperation:

Room temperature & Air quality

Most often, neonatal units maintain a temperate and humidity controlled environment which is essential given premature infants are unable to adjust on their own. Optimal temperature being 65-75 degrees Fahrenheit maintains optimal respiratory functions.

Filthy air in clogged high traffic areas acts as an irritant looming dangers of causing inflammation leading away from recovery alongside other complicating infections such as Pneumonia.

In conclusion

With vigilant routine guidance aimed at administering maximum care efforts towards critically susceptible newborns early whose lungs are not fully developed post-premature delivery markedly achieves critical development ensuing proper functioning healthy lung formation, minimizing potential collateral damages related to RDS whilst accentuating general successful long-term overall health.

Random Posts