Overview
What the Diagnosis Means
Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is chronic lung disease in a preterm infant whose lungs were still developing when inflammation, supplemental oxygen, and mechanical ventilation...
Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is chronic lung disease in a preterm infant whose lungs were still developing when inflammation, supplemental oxygen, and mechanical ventilation disrupted normal growth. The immature lung is especially vulnerable: injury can limit alveolar formation, leave fewer and larger air spaces for gas exchange, and alter pulmonary blood vessels. The result is persistent difficulty oxygenating and, in some infants, increased pulmonary vascular resistance and pulmonary hypertension. The diagnosis is not simply “a baby who received oxygen.” The clinical pattern is ongoing oxygen or respiratory-support dependence after the acute newborn respiratory illness should have improved. At 36 weeks post-menstrual age (PMA), an infant requiring any respiratory support is classified as having BPD under the NICHD framework. Oxygen concentration and the type or intensity of support help describe severity. PMA is the infant’s gestational age at birth plus chronological age. It is not the same as corrected age. A 26-week infant reaches 36 weeks PMA after 10 postnatal weeks, regardless of whether the infant is still in hospital. Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is a useful contrast. RDS is primarily an...