Pronounced: Brong-ko-PUL-mo-ner-ee Dis-PLAY-se-ah
Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a chronic lung disease that mainly affects infants born prematurely. Babies with BPD have trouble breathing because their lungs do not work properly. The condition usually develops during the first four weeks after birth.
Most babies who get BPD recover, but this is a serious condition that requires care from your doctor.
Several factors contribute to BPD, including:
A risk factor is something that increases your chances of getting a disease or condition. The following factors increase your child’s chances of developing BPD:
If your infant experiences any of these symptoms do not assume it is due to BPD. These symptoms may be caused by other, less serious health conditions.
Your doctor will review your child’s medical history, and may perform the following tests:
There is no specific treatment for BPD. Symptoms are treated to help the baby get strong and to allow the lungs to mature. Your child will most likely be treated in a hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit. He or she may need to stay in the hospital for an extended period of time.
Talk with your doctor about the best treatment plan for your child. Treatment options include the following:
A breathing machine is used until the baby can breathe well enough on his or her own.
Once the baby no longer needs a ventilator, he or she may be given extra oxygen through a mask or a nasal tube. Treatment could continue for weeks or even months. Your baby might still need to receive oxygen after coming home from the hospital.
An intravenous (IV) line that delivers food may be attached to a vein. Or, a feeding tube may be inserted into the stomach. Special formula might also be given to the baby. This extra nutrition should help the baby get stronger and healthier.
Special “exercises” help the baby’s muscles get stronger and help keep the lungs clear of mucus.
If your baby is diagnosed with BPD, follow your doctor's instructions.
There are no set guidelines for preventing BPD because the exact cause is not known. However there are some things you can do to help ensure you will give birth to a healthy baby:
RESOURCES:
American Lung Association
http://www.lungusa.org/
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/index.html/
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
The Canadian Lung Association
http://www.lung.ca/
The Hospital for Sick Children
http://www.sickkids.ca/
References:
Bancalari E, Claure N: Definitions and diagnostic criteria for bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Semin Perinatol 2006;30:164-70.
Baveja R, Christou H: Pharmacological strategies in the prevention and management of bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Semin Perinatol . 2006;30:209-18.
Bronchopulmonary dysplasia. American Lung Association website. Available at: http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=35017 . Accessed September 12, 2005.
Bronchopulmonary dysplasia. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute website. Available at:
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Bpd/Bpd_All.html
. Accessed September 12, 2005.
Bronchopulmonary dysplasia. US National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health Medline Plus website. Available at: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001088.htm . Accessed September 12, 2005.
Common questions about bronchopulmonary dysplasia. The University of Arizona Health Sciences Center website. Available at: www.peds.arizona.edu/neonatology/bpd.html. Accessed September 12, 2005.
Glossary. The American Lung Association website. Available at: http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=40415&printmode=1#s . Accessed September 14, 2005.
Respiratory distress syndrome in infants. US National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health Medline Plus website. Available at: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001563.htm . Accessed September 14, 2005.
Short EJ, Kirchner HL, Asaad GR et al: Developmental sequelae in preterm infants having a diagnosis of bronchopulmonary dysplasia: analysis using a severity-based classification system. Arch Ped adolesc Med . 2007;16:1082-7.
Last reviewed November 2008 by Rosalyn Carson-DeWitt, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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