(BPD) Bronchopulmonary dysplasia, a chronic lung disease. Caused by (IRDS) Infant Respiratory Distress Syndrome, infection, or mechanical ventilation. S/S: Stiff, obstructed l
…ungs; hard to ventilate b/c of scarring of alveoli. Goal: To replace damaged alveoli Rx: Supplemental O2, baby will need increased nutritional support every few hours b/c this infant is woking extremely hard to breathe & therefore needs more calories to expend the energy, and also drug therapy like surfactant put into lungs. Often will be premature birth (less than 37 weeks gestational age) & these infants are high risk, and infection prone. B/c this infant was born so early, it can NOT produce surfactant in its lungs like full term babies can (b/c surfactant is produced in the last weeks of gestation & this infant did not get a chance to stay in the womb to produce it), so it will have to be submitted through entubation within 24-48 hrs of being born. Many of these babies will have chronic to severe respiratory problems for the remainder of their lives. (MORE) 
