Neonatal respiratory distress syndrome in the hospital General Guasmo Sur, Ecuador

Abstract

Objective: To characterize the respiratory distress syndrome in neonates (SDRN) admitted to the Guasmo Sur General Hospital and to evaluate the association between the alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient and subjets prognosis. Materials and methods: A retrospective and descriptive study with a non-experimental design was carried out in newborns diagnosed with SDRN admitted to the Neonatal Intermediate Care Unit (CIN) and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) area of ​​the aforementioned hospital during the period from August 2020 to August 2021. Data from medical records found in the statistics department were used to obtain information. Results: Of the 218 newborns evaluated, the predominant gestational age was preterm infants (62.8%; n=137), most of whom were admitted to the NICU (83%; n=181), the most frequent etiology of RDS was: 75 cases (34.4%) had other Respiratory Diseases; 57 (26.1%) presented grade II RDS. Likewise, 115 (52.8%) neonates required Invasive Mechanical Ventilation. Severe Pulmonary Disease prevailed with 93 (42.7%) cases, the prognosis was favorable in 43.1% (n=94), unfavorable in 56.4% (n=123) and only 0.5% (n=1) died, the association between both variables was statistically significant. Conclusion: The neonates with SDRN at the Hospital General Guasmo Sur were mostly preterm, requiring admission to the NICU for invasive mechanical ventilation due to the severity of the lung disease exhibited and the unfavorable clinical prognosis during admission. Being the alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient a potential classification tool to predict this prognosis.