Respiratory failure due to lung immaturity

Abstract

Neonatal respiratory failure is the inability of the respiratory system to support oxygenation, ventilation, or both, in newborn children. This is mainly triggered by respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), or hyaline membrane disease (HMD), associated with developmental immaturity in the production of surfactant factor. Neonates with respiratory distress are 2 to 4 times more likely to die than those without respiratory distress.

A clinical description, diagnosis and treatment of respiratory failure due to lung immaturity in the pediatric population was made according to the scientific evidence found through a bibliographic review of the Pubmed and Elsevier database.

It has been shown that factors such as a low Apgar score of 5 minutes, premature birth, cesarean delivery, neonatal asphyxia, maternal diabetes mellitus, maternal hypertension and multiple pregnancy directly affect the presence of this pathology in neonates.

Pulmonary ultrasound allows to recognize the signs and symptoms of respiratory distress and initiate management strategies to prevent significant complications or death. Surfactant factor, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), non-invasive respiratory support, invasive ventilation and postnatal corticosteroids are used as treatment, where this disease is successfully managed, however, in some patients it may progress to chronic respiratory failure requiring tracheostomy and long-term mechanical ventilation.