| Diagnosis of chronic lung disease in premature babies | 1798.00000000000 | Diagnosis of chronic lung disease in premature babies | Diagnosis of chronic lung disease in premature babies | D | English | Neonatology;Respiratory | Premature;Newborn (0-28 days);Baby (1-12 months) | Lungs;Heart | Respiratory system | NA | Prenatal
Adult (19+) | NA | | 2009-10-31T04:00:00Z | | | | | | 10.5000000000000 | 53.3000000000000 | 665.000000000000 | | Flat Content | Health A-Z | <p>Read about chronic lung disease (CLD). CLD comes as a result of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and the use of mechanical ventilation.</p> | <p>Chronic lung disease (CLD) comes as a result of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and the use of mechanical ventilation.</p> | | <h2>Key points</h2>
<ul><li>A premature baby is considered to have chronic lung disease (CLD) if they need supplemental oxygen, the chest X-ray is consistent with chronic changes or injury, the continued use of ventilation has produced an abnormal growth of tissue within the lungs.</li>
<li>CLD is usually diagnosed with X-ray and a blood gases test, which will show a lowered level of oxygen and elevated carbon dioxide in the blood.</li>
<li>CLD may be complicated by pulmonary hypertension, which is an increase in blood pressure in the lungs.</li></ul> | <p>A baby is considered to have CLD if:</p><ul><li>A baby needs supplemental oxygen (and possibly mechanical ventilation) by the time they reach their full-term due date.</li><li>The chest X-ray is consistent with chronic changes or chronic injury.</li><li>The continued use of ventilation has produced an abnormal growth of tissue within the lungs.</li></ul><h2>How CLD is diagnosed</h2><p>Babies with CLD often have an increased rate of respiration and indrawing, and in general are not thriving. Indrawing is a powerful sucking in of the chest with each breath exposing the ribs beneath the skin. Indrawing often looks as if the chest wall is collapsing inward with each respiration and can be mild to severe.</p><p>In babies with CLD, X-rays usually show the lungs to have a large volume with patchy distribution of atelectasis, or underinflation, of some of the lung. These underinflated areas appear white on an X-ray. Other parts of the lung may have emphysema or an overinflation, which appears black on an X-ray. Emphysema is characterized by overinflation within the tissues of the lung which eventually causes a loss of elasticity of those tissues.</p><p>Blood gases will show a lowered level of oxygen and an elevated level of carbon dioxide in the blood, which is an indication of impaired gas exchange in the lungs.</p><p>Blood cultures will also be taken and a white blood count done to rule out infection.</p>
<figure class="asset-c-80">
<span class="asset-image-title">Chronic Lung Disease X-ray</span>
<img src="https://assets.aboutkidshealth.ca/akhassets/Chronic_lung_disease_XRAY_MEDIMG_PHO_EN.png" alt="X-ray of normal lungs and X-ray of lungs affected by chronic lung disease" />
<figcaption class="asset-image-caption">The normal lungs appear dark as they contain more air. In the chronic lung disease X-ray the lungs are overinflated. The right upper lung appears white and dense due to the collapse of the lung tissue.</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>CLD and BPD</h2><p>The terms CLD and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) are at times used to describe the same lung condition, although there are differences.</p><p>Although in both conditions scar tissue has formed in the lungs, with BPD the fibrosis created by the scarring will generally not heal normally; this will cause the lung to become quite stiff. Areas of the lung and bronchial tubes may also become unusually fibrous, indicating the death of the cells in those areas. Additionally, babies with BPD are at a higher risk for heart problems, specifically cor pulmonale or a failure of the right ventricle of the heart. Thankfully, BPD is rare.</p><p>BPD may be mild, moderate or severe, depending on how much breathing assistance the infant needs at 36 weeks for infants born less than 32 weeks gestational age, or 56 days for infants born more than 32 weeks gestational age.</p><h2>CLD and the heart</h2><p>CLD may be complicated by pulmonary hypertension, which is an increase in blood pressure in the lungs. This increased pressure may result in further complications that affect the heart. Specifically, the right ventricle of the heart may enlarge as it tries to cope with the increased blood pressures in the lung and increased resistance to the flow of blood out of the right ventricle. If the condition persists, it may progress to a failure of the right side of the heart, also called cor pulmonale. These signs may show up on an electrocardiogram (ECG/EKG) and 2D echocardiography (2D echo).</p><p>More information</p><ul><li>
<a href="/Article?contentid=1765&language=English">Chronic lung disease</a> </li><li>
<a href="/Article?contentid=1835&language=English">Treatment of chronic lung disease</a> </li></ul> | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | https://assets.aboutkidshealth.ca/akhassets/Chronic_lung_disease_XRAY_MEDIMG_PHO_EN.png | Diagnosis of chronic lung disease in premature babies | | False | | | | | | | | |
