RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Bronchial hypersecretion in preterm neonates.
JF Archives of Disease in Childhood
JO Arch Dis Child
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
SP 117
OP 122
DO 10.1136/adc.57.2.117
VO 57
IS 2
A1 Y C Wong
A1 C S Beardsmore
A1 J H Meek
A1 J Stocks
A1 M Silverman
YR 1982
UL http://adc.bmj.com/content/57/2/117.abstract
AB During an 18-month period, 11 preterm infants with birthweights between 700 and 1560 g (mean 1.2 kg) developed excessive tracheobronchial secretions during intensive care. No single obstetric factor was incriminated. Copious, viscous, tracheobronchial secretions were noted at about 5 days during mechanical ventilation via endotracheal tube causing recurrent segmental collapse, hypoxia, and hypercapnia (median peak PCO2 13.5 kPa). All infants were treated with frequent bronchial lavages and continued intermittent positive pressure ventilation, together with high concentrations of oxygen. No infant died, but morbidity was high. Tracheostomy was performed on 2 infants (one at age 3 months, because of severe croup) and 2 others had clinical or physiological evidence of upper airways narrowing. Follow-up studies showed that this group had more problems of airways obstruction throughout the first year of life as well as increased lung stiffness. The hypersecretion group showed a higher incidence of chronic lung disease. Likely aetiological factors were sought. Contamination of the mechanical ventilation equipment by detergent and activated glutaraldehyde was found; this could have been a contributory factor.