Premature infant develops cyanosis and dyspnea shortly after birth requiring admission to NICU What is it?
1. almost exclusively in premature infants. incidence and severity are inversely related to gest. age
2. lack of surfactant secretion and subsequent alveolar collapse (atelectasis)
3. hyaline membranes surrounding alveolar sacs
4. exogenous administration of surfactant via inhalation. giving steroids before birth can help improve lung development