Bronchopulmonary dysplasia

Alternative names:

BPD

Definition:

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia is a chronic lung disorder that may affect infants who require extensive oxygen therapy or ventilator support.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia occurs in severely ill infants who have received high concentrations of oxygen for long periods of time, and prolonged support on respiratory ventilators as treatment for respiratory distress syndrome usually associated with prematurity. Injury to lung tissue is caused from a combination of factors: increased pressure in the lungs from ventilators, oxygen toxicity, and from tube placement in the trachea to deliver oxygen (called endotracheal intubation). Risk factors include prematurity, respiratory infection, congenital heart disease, or other severe illness in the newborn period requiring therapy with oxygen and/or ventilators.