Oxygen in the blood, so that (contraction) Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the arteries in the lungs, severe pulmonary disease, and blood flow decreases after the birth of more disabled
- This disorder is caused by severe respiratory distress in term or postterm newborns or by certain drugs taken by the mother before delivery.
- Breathing is rapid, and the skin is bluish.
- The diagnosis is confirmed by an echocardiogram.
- Treatment involves opening (dilating) the arteries to the lungs by giving oxygen, often while supporting the newborn's breathing with a ventilator.
- To help dilate the arteries in the lungs, sometimes nitric oxide is added to the gas that the newborn is breathing.
- Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (similar to using an artificial lung) is sometimes used.
Normally, the blood vessels to the lungs are tightly constricted during fetal life. The lungs do not need much blood flow before birth because the placenta rather than the lungs eliminates carbon dioxide and transports oxygen to the fetus. Immediately after birth, the umbilical cord is cut and the newborn's lungs must take over the role of oxygenating the blood and removing carbon dioxide. To achieve this process, it is necessary for the fluid filling the air sacs (alveoli) to be replaced by air and for the pulmonary arteries, which bring blood to the lungs, to widen (dilate) so that an adequate amount of blood flows through the lungs.
In response to severe distress during delivery, to respiratory distress, or as a consequence of certain drugs taken by the mother before delivery (such as large doses of aspirin Some Trade Names BAYER), the blood vessels to the lungs may not dilate as they normally should. As a result, blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries is too high (pulmonary hypertension), and blood flow to the lungs is insufficient. Because of this insufficient blood flow, not enough oxygen reaches the blood.
