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My Baby’s Lung Condition
My Baby’s Lung ConditionNarratorRespiratory problems are one of the most common problems babies admitted to the NICU might have.Vedang Londhe, MDThe main criteria that most neonatologists use when determining when the baby is having respiratory distressis really how the baby is presenting clinically. We can usually look at a baby and have a good sense if the babyis working hard to breathe. In addition, the baby's respirations will give us a clue, the baby's color will give us aclue and the baby's oxygen saturation is often an important indicator that the baby is in respiratory distress.NarratorIf a baby is having trouble breathing, there can be many potential causes.Sue Hall, MD, NeonatologistBabies in the NICU can have a variety of lung problems. Starting with the most premature baby, they usuallyhave incomplete development of their lungs from an anatomic point of view, and as well they have surfactantdeficiency.NarratorLung issues, such as RDS, or Respiratory Distress Syndrome, caused by surfactant deficiency, are verycommon. Other conditions include: pneumothorax, or collapsed lung; TTN, or retained fetal lung fluid; andsome babies may develop Chronic Lung Disease, or BPD, over time. Many babies will need help breathingduring their stay and that might mean they will need assistance from a ventilator.Deone KanneBabies that come to our unit for respiratory issues may have to be on the ventilator because they're notbreathing on their own or they need help, or just regular oxygen care because they need a little boost to start.They may need blood drawn for to measure their oxygen concentration in the blood to see how they're doing.NarratorThere are also other ways to help your baby breathe.Vedang Londhe, MDThe methods that we use to help a baby breathe include either use of a ventilator or another apparatus knownas a CPAP machine, which stands for continuous positive airway pressure. And what determines whether ababy needs a ventilator or a CPAP is basically the amount of respiratory distress that the baby is in.NarratorOther smaller tubes might also be used to assist breathing, such as a nasal cannula. Doctors might usemedication, too, especially surfactant, which is given directly into babies lungs to help them expand.Remember to always ask your baby’s doctors if you want to know more about your baby’s condition. They willbe glad to help.This program is for informational purposes only. Publisher disclaims all guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness,or suitability of this video for medical decision making. For all health related issues please contact your healthcare provider.NICU00018A EN My BabysLungCondition.pdf© The Wellness NetworkPage 1 of 1
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An introduction to life in the neonatal intensive care unit, or NICU. Learn how you and NICU staff work together to give your baby the very best care.
