A Study on Clinical Profile of Preterm Neonates with Respiratory Distress

Abstract

Preterm neonates commonly develop respiratory distress, requiring NICU admission especially among <34 weeks of gestation. The timely intervention by CPAP can significantly reduce the mortality and morbidity. CPAP is non invasive method to support spontaneously breathing babies, which is less expensive, easy to operate, requires less skilled staff, less injury than mechanical ventilator. Hence this study was conducted to know the outcome of bubble continuous positive airway pressure in the form of CPAP success and failure rate. A prospective study was conducted on preterm neonates with respiratory distress admitted to a tertiary care hospital. The study analysed the efficacy of B-CPAP therapy, considering various factors such as gestational age, birth weight, duration of CPAP, and length of hospital stay. Statistical data analysis was performed using Microsoft Excel and Epi Info software. Relevant inferential statistical tests like chi- square and t-test were used for better interpretation of the results. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. In our study babies diagnosed with respiratory distress syndrome were113(80.7%), birth asphyxia were 12 (8.6%) meconium aspiration were 14(10%) and only one congenital pneumonia case was present. Out of 140 preterm neonates treated with B-CPAP, 85% had a successful outcome, while 15% experienced failure.