respiratory distress syndrome

respiratory distress syndrome
1. Also called hyaline membrane disease. an acute lung disease of the newborn, occurring primarily in premature babies and babies born to ill mothers, characterized by rapid breathing, flaring of the nostrils, inelastic lungs, edema of the extremities, and in some cases the formation of a hyaline membrane on the lungs caused by a lack of surfactant in the immature lung tissue.
2. Also called adult respiratory distress syndrome. a disorder, caused by an acute illness or injury that affects the lungs either directly or indirectly, resulting in stiffening of the lung tissue, pulmonary edema, and extreme shortness of breath. Abbr.: RDS
[1965-70]

* * *

Common complication in newborns, especially after premature birth.

Symptoms include very laboured breathing, bluish skin tinge, and low blood oxygen levels. Insufficient surfactant in the pulmonary alveoli raises surface tension, hampering lung expansion. The alveoli collapse (see atelectasis), and a "glassy" (hyaline) membrane develops in the alveolar ducts. Once the leading cause of death in premature infants, the syndrome is now usually treated for a few days with a mechanical ventilator (see respiratory therapy), with no aftereffects. An adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) can follow lung injury.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • respiratory distress syndrome — n a respiratory disorder that occurs in newborn premature infants and is characterized by deficiency of the surfactant coating the inner surface of the lungs, by failure of the lungs to expand and contract properly during breathing with resulting …   Medical dictionary

  • Respiratory distress syndrome — There are two forms of respiratory distress syndrome: * ARDS, which is acute (or adult ) respiratory distress syndrome * Infant respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), which is a complication of premature birth, also known as hyaline membrane… …   Wikipedia

  • Respiratory Distress Syndrome — Klassifikation nach ICD 10 J80 Atemnotsyndrom des Erwachsenen [ARDS] …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Respiratory distress syndrome — Klassifikation nach ICD 10 J80 Atemnotsyndrom des Erwachsenen [ARDS] …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • respiratory distress syndrome — noun an acute lung disease of the newborn (especially the premature newborn); lungs cannot expand because of a wetting agent is lacking; characterized by rapid shallow breathing and cyanosis and the formation of a glassy hyaline membrane over the …   Useful english dictionary

  • respiratory distress syndrome — hyaline membrane disease the condition of a newborn infant in which the lungs are imperfectly expanded. Initial inflation and normal expansion of the lungs requires the presence of a substance (surfactant) that reduces the surface tension of the… …   The new mediacal dictionary

  • respiratory distress syndrome of newborns — ▪ pathology also called  hyaline membrane disease        a common complication in infants, especially in premature newborns, characterized by extremely laboured breathing, cyanosis (a bluish tinge to the skin or mucous membranes), and abnormally… …   Universalium

  • respiratory distress syndrome of the newborn — noun an acute lung disease of the newborn (especially the premature newborn); lungs cannot expand because of a wetting agent is lacking; characterized by rapid shallow breathing and cyanosis and the formation of a glassy hyaline membrane over the …   Useful english dictionary

  • respiratory distress syndrome of newborn — neonatal respiratory distress s …   Medical dictionary

  • respiratory distress syndrome — noun Date: 1964 a respiratory disorder chiefly of newborn premature infants that is characterized by deficiency of the surfactant coating the inner surface of the lungs resulting in labored breathing, lung collapse, and hypoxemia …   New Collegiate Dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”