RESPIRATORY DISORDERS IN NEWBORN

Respiratory functions in newborns are hampered by many physiological handicaps, e.g. (a) erratic central drive, (b) poor nasopharyngeal coordination, (c) excessively pliant airways and chest walls, (d) relative immaturity of surfactants, (e) cardiovascular transition at birth, and (f) higher oxygen requirements. Superimposed on these are other common and pathological problems, e.g. immature mechanical or immune defense mechanisms, congenital malformations and perinatal hypoxia.

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