title: Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia Within and Beyond the Neonatal Unit.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), also known as chronic lung disease of prematurity or chronic neonatal lung disease, is a major cause of respiratory illness in premature babies. Newborn babies survive at gestational ages of 23 to 26 weeks, earlier than when BPD was first described. New mechanisms of lung injury have therefore emerged and the clinical and pathological characteristics of pulmonary involvement have changed.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Improved neonatal intensive care unit modalities have increased survival rates; the overall prevalence of the condition, however, has not changed. Management of evolving BPD aims at minimizing lung injury. Management of established, especially severe BPD, still poses significant clinical challenge as these babies need long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT) for variable length of time. We aim to give an overview of management of established BPD with particular focus on weaning home oxygen therapy at our local center in the United Kingdom.
  On the basis of most recent evidence, we concluded that an integrated pathway for managing babies on LTOT is very important after discharge from neonatal unit.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A structured weaning pathway for premature babies on home oxygen improves outcome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The management of severe BPD and related complications, particularly during the first 2 years of life, remains a continuing challenge for parents and healthcare providers. The most beneficial respiratory support strategy to minimize lung injury and/or promote lung healing remains unclear and requires further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Respiratory Medicine (Drs Khetan, Hurley, and Bhatt) and Children's Community Nursing (Ms Spencer), Nottingham Children's Hospital, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Renu
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Khetan
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hurley
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Spencer
authors.forename: Jayesh M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Bhatt
mesh_terms: D001997:Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000451:nursing*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D015931:Intensive Care, Neonatal / Q000379:methods; D055370:Lung Injury / Q000209:etiology* / Q000451:nursing*; D008297:Male; D017283:Neonatal Nursing / Q000193:education* / Q000379:methods; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000451:nursing*