Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) also known as hyaline membrane disease is a pulmonary disease resulting from immature lung development and surfactant deficiency. Most frequently seen in preterm infants, the clinical presentation is characterized by signs of respiratory distress including nasal flaring, tachypnea, and grunting (an expiratory sound that is heard as the infant exhales against a partially closed glottis). Symptoms often present shortly after birth and can increase in severity over the first 48 to 72 hours of life. The radiologic findings of RDS consist of a homogenous ground glass appearance of the lung fields with visible air bronchograms.
Remember
>90% risk of RDS if fetus is born 28 weeks or less.
Definition
Hyperpnea: refers to deep, relatively unlabored respirations at mildly increased rates. It is typical of situations in which there is reduced pulmonary blood flow (e.g., pulmonary atresia), and it results from the ventilation of underperfused alveoli. Tachypnea: refers to shallow, rapid, and somewhat labored respirations, and it is seen in the setting of low lung compliance (e.g., primary lung disease, pulmonary edema).
Transition from foetal life to neonatal life requires:
Fetal lungs are filled with fluid from pulmonary secretions
Most fluid moves out into amniotic fluid with breathing movements
Labour onset causes release of catecholamines, fluid in lungs is largely squeezed out with passage of the chest through the birth canal
With normal chest recoil, the infant’s lungs fill with air.
Surfactant is released from type II pneumocytes to lower surface tension and establish residual lung volume
Onset of regular breathing
↑pulmonary blood flow as a result of increased systemic vascular resistance and ↓pulmonary vascular resistance
Think
Infants born by caesarean section are more likely to have retained lung fluid.
Pulmonary Surfactant
Pulmonary surfactant is a complex mixture of lipids and proteins
The main function of surfactant is to decrease surface tension of the alveoli allowing for maintenance of functional residual capacity preventing atelectasis and lung injury.
The surfactant proteins also contribute to natural immunologic defences and assist with the spreading of surfactant throughout the alveoli and the recycling of surfactant between cells and the airspaces.
Pathophysiology
The primary cause of RDS is deficiency of pulmonary surfactant, which is developmentally regulated.
The fetal lung is filled with fluid and provides no respiratory function until birth
Fetal alveolar development is occurring in utero. Week 20 of gestation, surfactant is slowly expressed.
Gene mutations for proteins in surfactant → surfactant deficiency and/or dysfunction → RDS
Insufficient surfactant stores leads to:
Decreased compliance of the lungs
Inability of the infant to maintain air in the lung at the end of expiration resulting in a tiny area of collapsed lung (microatelectasis).
↑ effort on inhalation with microatelectasis → Ventilation and perfusion mismatch → Hypoxaemia, Tachypnoea, laboured breathing
Lung inflammation and respiratory epithelial injury, which may result in pulmonary oedema and increased airway resistance
Side note
Surfactant is a surface-active lipoprotein complex comprised of a mixture of phospholipids (90%), proteins (10%), and a small portion of other neutral lipids. The main function of surfactant is to decrease surface tension of the alveoli allowing for maintenance of functional residual capacity preventing atelectasis and lung injury. The surfactant proteins also contribute to natural immunologic defenses and assist with the spreading of surfactant throughout the alveoli and the recycling of surfactant between cells and the airspaces.
Clinical Manifestation
Usually occur at or soon after birth (first 4-6 hours)
Tachypnoea
Laboured breathing
Cyanosis
Grunting
Nasal flaring
Intercostal and subcostal retraction
Diagnosis
Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn is a clinical syndrome of severe hypoxemia resulting from failure of the foetal circulatory pattern to transition normally to the newborn circulatory pattern.
Investigations
CXR
ABG (or venous blood gas from umbilical venous line)
CBC
Blood cultures
Blood glucose
Echo
ECG if indicated
A chest x-ray is the investigation to perform in infants with respiratory distress. Findings for RDS are white lungs with the presence of air bronchograms and a ground glass appearence. Air bronchograms are so called because the small air-filled bronchi are seen outlined against the opacified fluid-filled alveoli. Ground glass is because of alveoli collapse.
Diagnosis is made on the basis of the combination of clinical and radiological features.
Surfactant administration should be considered in any premature intubated infant with a presumed diagnosis of RDS.
Indications for intubations
Hypoxia
Severe recurrent apnoea
Respiratory failure
Prevention
Antenatal glucocorticoid therapy
Complications and Prognosis
Prognosis
Dependent on general appearance at birth and severity of underlying lung disease. Long-term risks of chronic lung disease.
Classically worsens for 2-3days, then diuresis occurs recovery over 3-4days. Subsequent improvement is coincident with increased production of endogenous surfactant with resolution of symptoms by one week of age.
Complications
Prolonged ventilation
Increased risk of bronchopulmonary dysplasia
Sudden deterioration
Pneumothorax
Endotacheal tube blockage or displacement
Mechanical failure with the ventilator
Increase in the severity of the underlying lung disease
Massive intraventricular haemorrhage
Necrotizing enterocolitis
Patent ductus arteriosus
Remember
If baby suddenly deteriorates despite initially improving think of the possible causes of sudden deterioration.
Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome
Overview
ARDS is an acute, diffuse, inflammatory lung injury that leads to increased pulmonary vascular permeability, increased lung weight, and a loss of aerated tissue. Clinical hallmarks of ARDS are hypoxemia and bilateral radiographic opacities, while the pathological hallmark is diffuse alveolar damage.
Clinical Presentation
6 to 72 hours of an inciting event and worsen rapidly
Tachypnoea
Tachycardia
Diaphoresis
Accessory muscle use
Dyspnoea
Cyanosis (hypoxemia)
Diffuse crackles
+/- Cough and chest pain
Remember
Clinical hallmarks of ARDS are hypoxemia and bilateral radiographic opacities, while the pathological hallmark is diffuse alveolar damage.
Clinical Course
The first several days of ARDS are characterized by hypoxemia requiring a moderate to high concentration of inspired oxygen
Most patients who survive this initial course begin to exhibit better oxygenation and decreasing alveolar infiltrates over the next several days.
Some patients, however, have persistent, severe hypoxemia and remain ventilator-dependent. Pulmonary proliferative changes and fibrosis may progressively replace the pathological findings of diffuse alveolar damage as early as ten days after the onset of the respiratory failure.
Diagnostic Criteria – Berlin Definition
Acute onset of symptoms of a known clinical insult
Bilateral opacities consistent with pulmonary edema on Chest X-ray or CT. Other causes ruled out:
Pulmonary nodules
Lung collapse
Pleural effusion
Cardiac failure and fluid overload ruled out
Decreased/impaired oxygenation must be present
Mild
Moderate
Severe
Aetiology
Indirect lung injury: sepsis, shock, trauma, pancreatitis, drug OD, intracranial haemorrhage, blood-transfusion related lung injury
Direct lung injury: aspiration, inhalational injury, embolism
Pathophysiology
Insult → release of inflammatory mediators promoting neutrophil accumulation in microcirculation of lung
Discussion