title: The place of continuous external negative pressure (CNP) in the management of respiratory distress syndrome of the new born.
abstract: This work has been carried out on 28 cases of respiratory distress syndrome (R.D.S.), 17 cases of mild and moderate severity were treated by oxygen therapy, excess humidity, and correction of acid-base balance with 100% recovery within an average time of 72 hrs., while 11 cases of severe R.D.S. needed continuous negative external pressure (C.N.P.) in addition to routine management. The use of C.N.P. in spontaneously breathing infants reduced the need for high ambient oxygen, raised PaO2", shortened the duration of therapy; average time of recovery was 48 hrs. In addition, C.N.P. reduced the need for excessive alkali therapy and assisted ventilation. So, in addition to routine therapy, C.N.P. is recommended as an additional line of management of severe cases of R.D.S., i.e. cases that cannot maintain an arterial oxygen of 60 mmHg. at 60% ambient oxygen or above; or cases with frequent apnoeic attacks.
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008722:Methods; D011175:Positive-Pressure Respiration; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000628:therapy*