title: Contribution of elective delivery to severe respiratory distress at term.
abstract: We sought to determine the contribution of elective delivery to severe respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) on a weekly basis from 37-40 weeks' gestation. Chart reviews confirmed gestational age, delivery reason, and primary diagnosis of all inborn neonates with RDS requiring mechanical ventilation delivered at 37 0/7-40 6/7 weeks' gestation from 1/1/90-12/31/99. Exclusion criteria were sepsis, pneumonia, meconium aspiration, asphyxia, pulmonary hemorrhage, hydrops, chromosomal abnormality, or congenital malformations affecting respiration. Thirty-five thousand and thirty-one deliveries occurred from 37 0/7-40 6/7 weeks; 18 (0.05%) had RDS requiring mechanical ventilation. Nine infants delivered at 37 0/7-37 6/7 weeks, (OR for RDS = 38.5; 95% CI = 8.3, 178.3), seven delivered at 38 0/7-38 6/7 weeks, (OR for RDS = 13.3; 95% CI = 2.8, 64.0), and two delivered at 39 0/7-40 6/7 weeks. Six of 18 infants were electively delivered without documented lung maturity. Infants born at 37 0/7-38 6/7 weeks are at significantly increased risk for severe RDS. One third of RDS cases were potentially avoidable.
authors.affiliation: Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hartford Hospital, Connecticut, USA.
authors.forename: Joseph R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Wax
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Herson
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Carignan
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mather
authors.forename: Charles J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Ingardia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002585:Cesarean Section; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007751:Labor, Induced / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000209:etiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies