PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Barr, P A
AU  - Jenkins, P A
AU  - Baum, J D
TI  - Lecithin/sphingomyelin ratio in hypopharyngeal aspirate of newborn infants.
AID  - 10.1136/adc.50.11.856
DP  - 1975 Nov 01
TA  - Archives of Disease in Childhood
PG  - 856--861
VI  - 50
IP  - 11
4099  - http://adc.bmj.com/content/50/11/856.short
4100  - http://adc.bmj.com/content/50/11/856.full
SO  - Arch Dis Child1975 Nov 01; 50
AB  - The lecithin/sphingomyelin (L/S) ratio was measured in the hypopharyngeal aspirate of 41 newborn infants. In 20 without respiratory distress the ratio within 24 hours from birth ranged from 1.5 to 5.8 with a mean value of 3.3. In 6 with 'transient tachypnoea of the newborn' the ratio ranged from 2.0 to 6.7 with a mean value of 3.2. In 15 infants with idiopathic respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) the ratio ranged from 0.9 to 2.1 with a mean value of 1.4. In 14 of these infants the ratio within 24 hours from birth was 1.7 or less. One infant with a higher ratio and severe RDS is described in detail. Serial hypopharyngeal aspirate L/S ratios were determined in the infants with RDS. There was a possible trend toward the earlier attainment of a ratio of 2.0 in infants who received continuous distending airway pressure compared with infants who did not.