Nursing of wet lungs in newborns
Release time : 04/25/2025 09:30:01
In the nursing care of neonatal wet lung, it is necessary to pay close attention to early detection and differentiate from respiratory distress syndrome and aspiration pneumonia.
The Guangzhou Moms' Dictionary provides a detailed introduction to "Neonatal Wet Lung Care, Neonatal Wet Lung Etiology, Neonatal Wet Lung Symptoms, Neonatal Wet Lung Syndrome, and Neonatal Wet Lung Transmission."
Nursing of Newborn Wet Lung Any disease requires careful care, which is especially important for babies with fine skin and tender flesh.
What needs to be paid attention to in the care of neonatal wet lungs? 1. Warmth: Maintain appropriate temperature and humidity, with room temperature at 24-26°C and humidity at 55%.
Preterm infants and those with a body temperature that does not rise can be placed on a Far Infrared Radiation Warming Table or in an incubator to raise the neonate's skin temperature to 36.5°C.
2. Feeding should be based on the principle of small amounts frequently, and it is important to avoid overfeeding to prevent vomiting and aspiration.
When breastfeeding, the nipple hole should be small to prevent aspiration.
In cases of severe illness, nasogastric tube feeding or intravenous fluid supplementation may be utilized, with the necessary administration of small amounts of plasma in multiple doses.
3. Place the child in a head-high lateral position to reduce dyspnea and cyanosis.
Change your body position frequently to make it easy to expel respiratory secretions. Treatment and care should be carried out intensively to keep the child quiet to prevent the child from crying and increasing the burden on the heart.
4. Keep the respiratory tract unobstructed and clear respiratory secretions in a timely manner.
If the secretions are sticky and difficult to be aspirated, you can inhale them first for 15-20 minutes each time. Adding chymotrypsin, dexamethasone and corresponding antibiotics to the aerosol solution has a good effect on reducing inflammation, relieving cough and phlegm, and moistening airway. After aerosol inhalation, pat the back to suck phlegm. When sucking phlegm, first inhale oral secretions, and then inhale nasal secretions to prevent the secretions from being sucked into the lungs when the child wheezes and cries. When sucking sputum, pay attention to the volume, viscosity, color, complexion and changes in breath sounds before and after sucking sputum.
5. Closely observe the changes in the condition: ① If you develop restlessness, your heart rate is above 120 beats/min, your heart sounds are weak, asthma and cyanosis are aggravated, your liver grows in a short period of time, and your lower limbs are edema, etc., you must notify the doctor in time and apply cardiotonic agents and diuretics promptly and accurately according to your doctor's advice.
② If irregular breathing, apnea or cyanosis suddenly occurs, it may be respiratory failure.
If asthma intensifies and there is repeated suffocation, suction obstruction is needed. Sputum should be sucked in time, special personnel should be assigned to take care of it, and rescue preparations should be made.
Neonatal wet lung, also known as transient respiratory distress syndrome (RDS type II) in neonates, is a self-limiting disease. What causes the onset of neonatal wet lung? Is it detrimental to the baby's future growth and development? Let's delve into this further!
Fetal lungs are filled with fluid.
In normal labor, when the fetal head is delivered through a narrow birth canal and the fetal chest is compressed, approximately one-half to two-thirds of the alveoli are squeezed out into the external environment.
After inhalation begins, the air enters the alveoli, and the remaining fluid in the alveoli is absorbed by the capillaries on the walls of the alveoli.
If the lung alveoli and interstitial fluid are excessive, the absorption is delayed, or there is difficulty in fluid transport, resulting in a large amount of fluid remaining in the alveoli within 24 hours after birth, which affects gas exchange and causes respiratory distress. This is the main mechanism of this disease.
It is commonly seen in infants delivered by cesarean section, due to the fact that the alveolar fluid has not been expelled.
It is also commonly seen in infants who have inhaled excessive amniotic fluid, leading to asphyxia.
The symptoms of neonatal wet lungs are common to all major illnesses. What symptoms does this condition present in newborns? Most infants are full-term, with the majority showing signs of rapid breathing (>60 breaths per minute) within 6 hours after birth. Mild cases are more common, with symptoms lasting only 12 to 24 hours, while severe cases are less common and can persist for 2 to 5 days. Signs include a weak cry, cyanosis, mild groaning, nasal flaring, and three intercostal retractions, accompanied by rapid breathing (up to 100 breaths per minute), few positive respiratory signs, and diminished breath sounds on auscultation. There may be a slight decrease in PaO2, and instances of vomiting, elevated PaCO2, and acidosis are uncommon. The infant generally appears well, is able to cry, suckle, and feed.
The primary cause of neonatal wet lung is the absence of chest compression during cesarean section, leading to fluid accumulation within the lungs. This results in congestion of lymphatic and venous vessels, with minimal effusion observed between lobes and in the thoracic cavity, thereby impeding respiration.
Therefore, it is advisable that the amount of sedative drugs be used in a manner not exceeding what would be considered appropriate.
Abortion should be limited to necessary procedures.
When necessary, positional drainage can be performed promptly.
Neonatal wet lung syndrome, what is it? Due to delayed absorption of fetal pulmonary fluids, leading to increased breathing and hypoxemia necessitating oxygen therapy for respiratory distress.
Infants who are affected are typically full-term or very close to full-term, and are more likely to be born by cesarean section with a history of intrapartum asphyxia. They can also occur in premature infants with respiratory distress syndrome.
Infants present with increased respiration, moaning, and cyanosis upon birth.
Chest X-ray shows excessive lung expansion with thickening of the pulmonary hilum, and a distended periphery. The cardiac borders are blurred, while the peripheral lung fields remain clear. A fluid collection is visible at the fissure. The mechanism for the absorption of fetal lung fluid has been described in Chapter 256: Postnatal Physiology.
The recovery typically occurs within 2 to 3 days. Treatment involves support and oxygen administration via a mask, monitoring of blood gases through arterial blood samples, or monitoring of blood oxygen saturation through transcutaneous photoplethysmographic (Pulse Oximeter) devices.
Some patients require the use of CPAP and intermittent positive airway pressure.
Note: The above content is for reference only and should not be considered professional advice.
Any advice on diseases online cannot replace the face-to-face diagnosis by a practicing physician.
Is neonatal wet lung contagious? No matter whether it is a serious or minor illness, there is always concern about being infected with a contagious disease. So, can neonatal wet lung be contagious? Let's explore this together! This condition is related to increased fluid in the lungs and insufficient lymphatic drainage, resulting in temporary respiratory dysfunction. It does not fall under the category of contagious diseases.
Normally, the lungs contain about 30ml of fluid. During normal childbirth, when the head is delivered through a narrow birth canal and the chest cavity is compressed, approximately one-half to two-thirds of the lung fluid are expelled into the external environment.
After inhalation, air enters the alveoli and the remaining alveolar fluid is absorbed by the pulmonary capillaries.
If there is an excess of fluid in the alveoli and interstitium, with delayed absorption or difficulty in fluid transport, leading to a significant retention of fluid within the alveoli within the first 24 hours of birth, which impairs gas exchange, resulting in respiratory distress; coupled with impaired transport function, this constitutes the primary mechanism of disease occurrence.
It is often observed in neonates delivered via cesarean section, as the alveolar fluid has not been expelled.
It is also commonly observed in infants with asphyxia due to excessive amniotic fluid inhalation.
The medical information provided in this text is for reference only.
In case of discomfort, it is recommended to seek medical attention immediately for a definitive diagnosis and treatment.