This page has moved. Click here to view. Respiratory Problems of the Newborn Hyalin membrane disease, respiratory distress syndrome is the big one that you worry about in preterm babies respiratory disorders of the newborn, respiratory distress syndrome, hyalin membrane disease. The cause is inadequate pulmonary surfactant. You get atelectasis of the alveoli, edema and cell injury.
Proteins leak into the alveoli and inhibits the surfactant function.
So even if there is adequate surfactant they still cannot function well. Antenatal steroids and prevention of prematurity are the only two things we know that will prevent it. High respiratory rate, normally 60, 40-60. A premature is usually around 60 but they are breathing 90-120 times a minute, they are just huffing and puffing. Retractions you see in between their ribs, above their sternum, underneath their ribs, their nose flares, they are grunting in the attempt to keep their alveoli open and they are blue.