P22.0: Respiratory distress syndrome of newborn

The lungs are on the left and right side of the ribcage. They are also connected to the nose and mouth via the bronchial tubes and windpipe (trachea). You need lungs to breath. When we breathe in, oxygen enters the lungs and accumulates in the blood. This blood then flows to the heart. The heart then pumps the oxygen-rich blood throughout the body. All of the organs are supplied with oxygen as a result.

The lungs are made up of lots of small alveoli. These are air sacs with a thin wall. On the inner side of the thin membrane there is a fine film of fluid. This film of fluid also usually contains so-called surfactant. Surfactant enables the pulmonary alveoli to expand when inhaling. Surfactant also prevents the pulmonary alveoli from collapsing when exhaling. Surfactant only forms in the child's lungs late in pregnancy. Normally the child’s pulmonary alveoli open out immediately after birth when the first breath is taken and they fill with air.

In a case of respiratory distress syndrome, it may be that not enough surfactant is being produced in the child’s lungs. It may also be that the surfactant is not working as well as normal. The child’s pulmonary alveoli are unable to expand properly without enough functioning surfactant. As a result, too little air gets into the lungs. The lungs may then be unable to absorb as much oxygen as usual.

When the pulmonary alveoli do not to expand properly the child may give various indications. These include breathlessness and accelerated breathing. The child’s nostrils may move vigorously when breathing. The child’s skin may also turn blueish.