nhsl_bronchopulmonary-dysplasia-bpd-_pil_neonates-1-10-13.ppt

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a breathing disorder in premature infants where the infants' lungs become irritated and do not develop normally. It occurs most often in low-weight infants born more than two months early. Bronchopulmonary dysplasia is also known as: Chronic lung disease of prematurity.

1. Bronchopulmonary
dysplasia (BPD)
Information for parents
Simpson Centre for Reproductive Health
Neonatal Unit
What does BPD mean for my baby in the future?
In the long term, most babies with BPD do very well and
have few extra difficulties after they come out of oxygen.
Babies are more likely to get infections, which can be life-
threatening, so it is important to avoid contact with people
who have an infection and to make sure your baby (and your
other children) have their vaccinations when offered.
Some babies may need to be readmitted to hospital in the
first few years because of respiratory infections and some
may go on to have symptoms of wheeze or cough that may
need more investigations or treatment.
Your baby will need to come to clinic regularly to make sure
they are growing and developing well.
Further information
If you wish to discuss anything about the treatment your
baby is receiving, please speak to the doctor or nurse on the
neonatal unit.
Simpson Centre for Reproductive Health,
Department of Neonatology,
Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh,
51 Little France Crescent,
Old Dalkeith Road,
Edinburgh EH16 4SA
Author: JC Becher
Produced 1 10 13, Review due: 1 10 23

2. Who is at risk for bronchopulmonary dysplasia?
The more premature a baby is and the lower their birth
weight, the greater the risk of them developing BPD. It affects
between 30-50% of babies born before 30 weeks and is
diagnosed if a baby is still in oxygen at around 36 weeks
corrected age.
What does it mean for my baby now?
At this time, your baby is dependent on extra oxygen or
breathing support. Babies with BPD find breathing very
difficult and use a lot of energy in the process. We are paying
extra attention to your baby’s need for oxygen and how easy
they find breathing, whether there are any signs of infection
and how well your baby is growing.
Is there any treatment?
There is no specific treatment for BPD but we will help your
baby stay infection free and grow as well as possible until the
lungs are stronger. The good news is that most babies with
BPD will come out of extra oxygen or off ventilator support
with time as the lungs grow and become more mature.
Sometimes a ‘diuretic’ (medicine) is prescribed to remove
fluid from the lungs and circulation and a steroid (medicine)
may be given to reduce inflammation; these will help your
baby breathe more easily.
If your baby is doing well in feeding and is ready for home,
the doctors may decide that your baby can be discharged and
receive oxygen at home for some weeks or months.
To help in this decision a ‘sleep study’ is performed. This
study monitors how stable your baby’s oxygen levels are, and
whether and how much oxygen still needs to be given. If your
baby is discharged home in oxygen, a team of nurses will
help you get your house ready and will support you in looking
after your baby when home.
What is bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD)?
Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a chronic condition
which may occur in premature babies. The lungs of a
premature baby are fragile and can be easily damaged by the
treatments used to save a baby’s life.
 Broncho refers to the passages that oxygen travels
through when we breathe
 Pulmonary refers to the ends of these passages
(alveoli), where oxygen and carbon dioxide are
exchanged
 Dysplasia means abnormal changes to the cells in the
breathing passages and alveoli. These changes are
due to inflammation and scarring.
Inflammation and scarring are some of the side-effects of the
treatments (oxygen and breathing support) used to help a
premature baby breathe in the first few days and weeks of life.
Every cell in the body needs oxygen but sometimes it can
become toxic and cause harmful changes to the lungs. A
ventilator (breathing machine) helps the baby to breathe by
pushing oxygen into the lungs but sometimes this pressure
causes damage to the lungs.
When lungs are damaged they leak fluid into the alveoli. This
makes breathing even more difficult. Also, the muscles around
the breathing passages can become ‘irritated’ and can go into
spasm, which makes the tubes narrower. This can make it
harder for air to get in and out of the lungs. When air has to
travel through these narrowed tubes, you may hear wheezing.
The body sends cells into the lungs to try and repair this
damage. This process is called inflammation. Infection may
also cause inflammation. Sometimes the action of these cells
causes further damage, which leads to scarring.