Neonatal Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Excerpt

Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) represents a common and serious condition among premature infants and arises from insufficient surfactant production that impairs lung function. The disorder remains a leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality worldwide, with the highest burden observed in infants born before 34 weeks of gestation. Surfactant deficiency promotes alveolar collapse, which reduces lung compliance and leads to hypoxemia and progressive respiratory failure.

Affected neonates typically develop signs of respiratory distress shortly after birth, including tachypnea, expiratory grunting, nasal flaring, and cyanosis. Early diagnosis depends on careful clinical evaluation, supported by characteristic radiographic findings and blood gas abnormalities. Management emphasizes surfactant replacement therapy and respiratory support, most commonly with continuous positive airway pressure, while mechanical ventilation serves as a rescue strategy for severe disease. Preventive interventions, particularly antenatal corticosteroid administration for mothers at risk of preterm delivery, have markedly reduced both incidence and severity. Optimal outcomes depend on coordinated interprofessional care involving neonatologists, nurses, respiratory therapists, and other healthcare professionals, along with a thorough understanding of RDS etiology, clinical presentation, and evidence-based treatment strategies to improve survival and limit complications in this vulnerable population.