[Respiratory disorders in preterm and term neonates: an update on diagnostics and therapy]

Abstract

Respiratory disorders remain a major problem in postnatal adaptation. In term neonates, an increased incidence of the risk for transient tachypnoea of the neonate has been observed during the past decade, most likely secondary to an increased usage of primary Caesarean section. The disorder is mainly caused by a delayed resorption of foetal lung fluid. Further disorders in term neonates include meconium aspiration syndrome and congenital diaphragmatic hernia leading to impaired gas exchange and pulmonary hypertension. In preterm neonates, respiratory distress syndrome is the main disorder leading to severe acute and long-term impaired gas exchange. Prenatal administration of glucocorticoids and postnatal surfactant therapy remains an established principle in perinatal care for very preterm neonates. The most relevant long-term sequelae, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, is currently being observed in about 15% of preterms with less than 32 weeks of gestation and is associated with severe pulmonary and extrapulmonary consequences. Due to the overall improvement in perinatal care, respiratory disorders still remain a major problem in pulmonary adaptation. However, mortality secondary to neonatal lung failure has been decreased substantially by the improvements in the whole field of perinatal medicine.