Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is a life-threatening lung disorder that commonly affects premature infants. Respiratory distress syndrome results from insufficient levels of surfactant, a foamy fluid substance produced by the body between the 34th and 37th week of pregnancy. Surfactant is essential for the expansion of the alveoli or air sacs of the lungs. When an infant is born prematurely,…
Posts published in April 2020
Spontaneous pneumothorax is a sudden collection of air or gas in the chest that causes the lung to collapse in the absence of a traumatic injury to the chest or lung. Usually, a distinction is made between a spontaneous (primary) pneumothorax, and secondary (complicated) pneumothorax. SPONTANEOUS (PRIMARY) PNEUMOTHORAX Spontaneous pneumothorax occurs in individuals with no known lung disease. It affects…