This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Go to /pro/cpd-dashboard page

This page is worth 0.05 CPD credits. CPD dashboard

Go to /account/subscription-details page

This page is worth 0.05 CPD credits. Upgrade to Pro

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia

Authoring team

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia is a condition that may develop in some preterm infants, in which the infant remains dependent on artificial ventilation and then oxygen for several months (1). Chest radiology reveals patchy collapse and cystic changes in overinflated lungs

  • BPD is the most common adverse outcome of very preterm delivery, affecting up to 75% of infants born before 28 weeks of gestation worldwide (2)
    • usually diagnosed if an infant remains oxygen dependent at 28 days of age, and severity is determined at 36 weeks of postmenstrual age
    • was first described in moderately preterm infants with fibrotic lung changes resulting from high oxygen and airway pressure levels

The prognosis of this condition is variable with some infants making a complete recovery and others dying of conditions such as cor pulmonale or chronic respiratory failure.

Management:

  • seek expert advice
  • a course of steroids may be commenced once the diagnosis has been made, provided there are no contraindications.

Prevention of BPD

  • a trial involving infants who had a gestational age of less than 30 weeks and who had been intubated for at least 7 days at 14 to 28 days (1)
    • investigated whether hydrocortisone treatment after the second postnatal week can improve survival without bronchopulmonary dysplasia and without adverse neurodevelopmental effects
    • found hydrocortisone (IV/oral) starting postnatal day 14-28 did not result in substantially higher survival without moderate/severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia at 36 weeks or survival without moderate or severe neurodevelopmental impairment vs placebo
    • an editorial concluded that glucocorticoids should not be given to prevent BPD (2)

Reference:


Create an account to add page annotations

Annotations allow you to add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation. E.g. a website or number. This information will always show when you visit this page.

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2024 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.