Chronic Lung Disease (Bronchopulmonary
Dysplasia)
What is chronic lung disease?Chronic lung disease (CLD) is a general term for long-term
respiratory problems in premature babies. It is also known as
bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD).
What causes chronic lung disease?CLD results from lung injury to newborns who must use a
mechanical ventilator and extra oxygen for breathing. The lungs of
premature babies are fragile and are easily damaged. With injury, the
tissues inside the lungs become inflamed and can break down causing
scarring. This scarring can result in difficulty breathing and increased
oxygen needs. Some of the causes of lung injury include the following:
- prematurity - the lungs, especially the air sacs, are not fully
developed
- low amounts of surfactant (a substance in the lungs that helps keep
the tiny air sacs open)
- oxygen use (high concentrations of oxygen can damage the cells of
the lungs)
- mechanical ventilation - the pressure of air from breathing
machines, suctioning of the airways, use of an endotracheal tube (ET
tube - a tube placed in the trachea and connected to a breathing
machine)
Who is affected by chronic lung disease?Chronic lung disease can develop in premature babies who have
had mechanical ventilation (breathing machine). Risk factors for
developing CLD include:
- birth at less than 34 weeks gestation
- birthweight less than 2,000 grams (4 pounds 6 1/2 ounces)
- hyaline membrane disease - lung disease of prematurity due to lack
of surfactant that does not show the usual improvement by the third or
fourth day.
- pulmonary interstitial emphysema (PIE) - a problem in which air
leaks out of the airways into the spaces between the small air sacs of
the lungs.
- patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) - a connection between the blood
vessels of the heart and lungs that does not close as it should after
birth.
- Caucasian, male babies
- maternal womb infection (chorioamnionitis)
- a family history of asthma
What are the symptoms of chronic lung disease?The following are the most common symptoms of CLD. However,
each baby may experience different symptoms of the condition. Symptoms may
include:
- respiratory distress (rapid breathing, flaring of the nostrils,
chest retractions)
- continued need for mechanical ventilation or oxygen after a
premature baby reaches 36 weeks gestation
Symptoms of CLD may resemble other conditions or medical problems.
Always consult your baby's physician for a diagnosis.
How is chronic lung disease diagnosed?Because CLD is a chronic disease and appears gradually,
physicians must look at several factors. It is often diagnosed when a
premature baby with respiratory problems continues to need additional
oxygen after reaching 36 weeks gestational age. Chest x-rays compared with
previous x-rays may show changes in the appearance of the lungs. The x-ray
of lungs with CLD often have a bubbly, sponge-like appearance. X-rays are
diagnostic tests which use invisible electromagnetic energy beams to
produce images of internal tissues, bones, and organs onto film.
Treatment of chronic lung disease:Specific treatment for CLD will be determined by your baby's
physician based on:
- your baby's gestational age, overall health, and medical history
- extent of the disease
- your baby's tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or
therapies
- expectations for the course of the disease
- your opinion or preference
Treatment of CLD may include:
- extra oxygen (to make up for the decreased breathing ability of the
damaged lungs)
- mechanical ventilation with gradual weaning as the baby's lungs grow
and can do more of the work of breathing
- medications such as:
- bronchodilators (to help open the airways)
- steroids (to help reduce inflammation)
- limiting fluids and giving a diuretic medication to help reduce
excess fluid which can worsen breathing ability
- nutrition (to help the baby and the lungs grow)
- immunization against lung infection by respiratory syncytial virus
(RSV) and influenza
CLD can be a long-term condition. Some babies with CLD require
mechanical ventilators for several months. Some babies will continue to
require oxygen when they go home from the hospital, but most can be weaned
from oxygen by the end of their first year. Babies with CLD may be at
increased risk for respiratory infection and may have to be
re-hospitalized.
Click here to view the
Online Resources page of this Web. |
