Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is the leading cause of respiratory failure in preterm infants, and its incidence and severity are inversely related to the gestational age of the newborn. The major underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms are surfactant deficiency and anatomic, structural immaturity of the lung. Surfactant, a mixture of phospholipids, reduces the surface tension and keeps the alveoli open. When surfactant is deficient diffuse atelectasis develops, and results in reduced lung compliance, ventilation perfusion imbalance and impaired gas exchange.
Recent therapeutic advances including antenatal steroid treatment to enhance pulmonary maturity, appropriate resuscitation facilitated by placental transfusion, intial use of continuous positive airway pressure for alveolar recruitment, early rescue administration of surfactant, ventilation with gentler modes to minimize damage to the immature lungs, have significantly decreased RDS-related morbidity and mortality. On the other hand, new research on clinical use of third-generation synthetic surfactants, development of novel less-invasive surfactant administration techniques, use of surfactant as a therapeutic vector for mitigation of bronchopulmonary dysplasia, lung ultrasound for RDS diagnosis and individualization of surfactant treatment are examples of exciting new areas being explored in this field.
This Research Topic will provide up-to-date information on RDS in preterm infants. We welcome both experimental and clinical research articles about pathophysiology, diagnosis and management of RDS that provide further insight for the scientists and clinicians caring for preterm infants. Epidemiological Studies, Observational Studies, Case Series, Randomized Controlled Trials and Meta-analyses are accepted for evaluation.
Sub-themes that we would wish to explore in this Research Topic include:
-Pathophysiology and epidemiology of RDS;
-Impact of COVID-19 on epidemiology of RDS;
-Genetics of RDS: influence on incidence, severity and long-term outcomes;
-Maternal diseases and their impacts on development of RDS;
-Novel therapeutic approaches to antenatal steroid use and their impact on RDS epidemiology and severity;
-Role of diagnostic techniques in the prediction of RDS and its severity – scoring systems, ultrasonography, other non-invasive methods in addition to novel biochemical markers;
-Individualized and precision medicine in RDS management;
-Timing of surfactant application: prophylactic, early or late rescue use;
-Less invasive surfactant administration techniques;
-Improvements in synthetic surfactants;
-Adjunctive therapies in addition to (or instead of) surfactant in the management of RDS;
-Exogenous surfactant as a therapeutic vector in management of respiratory morbidities;
-Complications observed in RDS and long term respiratory, cardiovascular and neurological follow-up outcomes of patients;
-Simulation methods in education for RDS management;
PLEASE NOTE: ABSTRACTS ARE NOT COMPULSORY AND THEY ARE NOT NECESSARY TO ALLOW THE SUBMISSION OF A FULL MANUSCRIPT. THEY SERVE THE PURPOSE OF ENABLING THE GUEST EDITORS TO PERFORM A PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT OF THE CONTENT THAT WILL BE SUBMITTED TO THEIR COLLECTION.
Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is the leading cause of respiratory failure in preterm infants, and its incidence and severity are inversely related to the gestational age of the newborn. The major underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms are surfactant deficiency and anatomic, structural immaturity of the lung. Surfactant, a mixture of phospholipids, reduces the surface tension and keeps the alveoli open. When surfactant is deficient diffuse atelectasis develops, and results in reduced lung compliance, ventilation perfusion imbalance and impaired gas exchange.
Recent therapeutic advances including antenatal steroid treatment to enhance pulmonary maturity, appropriate resuscitation facilitated by placental transfusion, intial use of continuous positive airway pressure for alveolar recruitment, early rescue administration of surfactant, ventilation with gentler modes to minimize damage to the immature lungs, have significantly decreased RDS-related morbidity and mortality. On the other hand, new research on clinical use of third-generation synthetic surfactants, development of novel less-invasive surfactant administration techniques, use of surfactant as a therapeutic vector for mitigation of bronchopulmonary dysplasia, lung ultrasound for RDS diagnosis and individualization of surfactant treatment are examples of exciting new areas being explored in this field.
This Research Topic will provide up-to-date information on RDS in preterm infants. We welcome both experimental and clinical research articles about pathophysiology, diagnosis and management of RDS that provide further insight for the scientists and clinicians caring for preterm infants. Epidemiological Studies, Observational Studies, Case Series, Randomized Controlled Trials and Meta-analyses are accepted for evaluation.
Sub-themes that we would wish to explore in this Research Topic include:
-Pathophysiology and epidemiology of RDS;
-Impact of COVID-19 on epidemiology of RDS;
-Genetics of RDS: influence on incidence, severity and long-term outcomes;
-Maternal diseases and their impacts on development of RDS;
-Novel therapeutic approaches to antenatal steroid use and their impact on RDS epidemiology and severity;
-Role of diagnostic techniques in the prediction of RDS and its severity – scoring systems, ultrasonography, other non-invasive methods in addition to novel biochemical markers;
-Individualized and precision medicine in RDS management;
-Timing of surfactant application: prophylactic, early or late rescue use;
-Less invasive surfactant administration techniques;
-Improvements in synthetic surfactants;
-Adjunctive therapies in addition to (or instead of) surfactant in the management of RDS;
-Exogenous surfactant as a therapeutic vector in management of respiratory morbidities;
-Complications observed in RDS and long term respiratory, cardiovascular and neurological follow-up outcomes of patients;
-Simulation methods in education for RDS management;
PLEASE NOTE: ABSTRACTS ARE NOT COMPULSORY AND THEY ARE NOT NECESSARY TO ALLOW THE SUBMISSION OF A FULL MANUSCRIPT. THEY SERVE THE PURPOSE OF ENABLING THE GUEST EDITORS TO PERFORM A PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT OF THE CONTENT THAT WILL BE SUBMITTED TO THEIR COLLECTION.
