Curriculum of Obstetrics
TOPIC 43
NEONATAL RESPIRATORY DISTRESS AND NEONATAL RESUSCITATION
RATIONALE
Most neonates take a breath within seconds of birth and cry within half a minute. Prolongation of these intervals beyond 1 and 2 minutes, respectively, indicates an abnormality. Continued lack of breathing demands active resuscitation. Therefore, an individual who is qualified to perform neonatal resuscitation should be immediately available at the time of delivery.
GOALS
l Recognize how to evaluate the newborn condition and to diagnose neonatal respiratory distress
l Learn how to competently resuscitate a newborn infant in respiratory distress
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
By the end of this course, the student will be able to:
l Define neonatal respiratory distress
l List the types and causes of neonatal respiratory distress
l Describe the clinical picture of neonatal asphyxia including types of apnea
l Describe immediate evaluation of the newborn using the Apgar score
l Describe the steps of neonatal resuscitation
l Mention prophylactic measures against neonatal asphyxia
l Describe the treatment of the different causes of respiratory distress in the newborn
l Enumerate long-term complications of neonatal asphyxia
CONTENT
l Types and causes of neonatal respiratory distress
l Neonatal evaluation and Apgar score
l Steps of neonatal resuscitation
l Prophylaxis against neonatal asphyxia
