Assessing Respiratory Distress in Late Preterm Neonates: A Cross-Sectional Study in a Tertiary Care Hospital
Abstract: The rising occurrences of late preterm deliveries underscore the need to assess the specific challenges faced by infants born during this period. However, there is insufficient data on the short-term complications experienced by these neonates in the current study setting. Therefore, the study seeks to investigate respiratory distress in late preterm neonates in a tertiary care hospital. A cross-sectional study was undertaken involving 100 late preterm neonates admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) due to respiratory distress. Subsequently, these infants were monitored to assess short-term outcomes, considering both the duration of hospital stay and mortality. The distribution of gestational ages among neonates was as follows: 35%, 38%, and 27% were born at 34 weeks, 35 weeks, and 36 weeks, respectively. A majority of the infants were male, accounting for 55% of the total. Abnormal chest x-ray findings were noted in 82% of the neonates. The predominant diagnoses included transient tachypnea of newborns, early-onset sepsis, respiratory distress syndrome, meconium aspiration syndrome, birth asphyxia, and congenital heart disease. Hospital stays for 47% of the neonates ranged from 8 to 15 days, while 39% and 14% stayed ?7 and >15 days, respectively. Mortality was observed in 19% of the neonates. Deciding to induce delivery in the late preterm period is a crucial factor in shaping the prognosis for newborns. It requires a careful assessment of both the potential benefits and risks, as a judicious decision can greatly impact the well-being of the infant. Consequently, prolonging pregnancy to a minimum of 36 weeks is anticipated to play a significant role in reducing the severity of respiratory morbidity.
Keywords: Late preterm deliveries, Neonatal respiratory distress, Respiratory morbidity
How to Cite?: Dr. Akshai Bhagyanathan, Dr. Bhavana Izardar, Dr. Akash S. Mangalgi, Dr. Deva Sahas Raja, "Assessing Respiratory Distress in Late Preterm Neonates: A Cross-Sectional Study in a Tertiary Care Hospital", Volume 12 Issue 12, December 2023, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 765-767, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR231207132215, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR231207132215