National Nursing Review : Nursing Study Resources & Health Tips

Silverman index is a score to assess, in the premature infant, the severity of respiratory distress syndrome.
It is most often due to a lack of surfactant (liquid lining the inner surface of alveoli.)
Silverman index depends on several parameters:

• Balancing thoraco-abdominal inspiration: mobilization of the thorax and abdomen.
• Indrawing depression abnormal chest wall, visible up to the intercostal spaces (circulation under sternum) during heavy breaths.
• This draw may also be visible above the sternum (sternal random addition). This phenomenon occurs when the entry of air into the lungs is obstructed by a mechanical obstacle.
• Funnel xiphoid.
• Flapping wings of the nose.
• Grunting.

(more…)

Inflammation of lung bronchioles. It may be due to an acute viral infection, often very serious in infants.
Etiology:
The viruses are primarily responsible for respiratory infections in infants and small children. The broncho-pneumonia are often epidemic.
Viruses are implicated in the majority of RSV (Respiratory Virus Syncicial) and influenza viruses and adenoviruses.

Note the notion of repeated infections caused by a deficiency of immunoglobulins (IgA, IgG). Other factors may encourage respiratory infections: passive smoking, pollution, community development, psychological factors (overprotection of the mother anguish …), gastro-esophageal reflux. The hereditary factor is not negligible: the existence of an allergic component with an atopic family plot (often in association with skin reactions). (more…)

A premature, by definition, a newborn whose gestational age is less than 37 weeks of pregnancy, counted from the first day of gestation. It is always an important factor for perinatal morbidity. The risk of death or sequelae is directly related to the degree of prematurity.
The lower limit of viability theory was set by the World Health to 22 weeks and 500g, but still a theory, premature infants less than 1000g already accounting for 5% of premature births.

Aetiology:
Found primarily in the socio economic disadvantage (underprivileged, single women, standing work and painful, …)
Then find uteroplacental abnormalities, morphological type (bifid uterus, hypoplastic), cervical incompetence, smoking or maternal pathology.
Finally, there may be a factor directly fetus, including twins and other multiple births.
In 40% of cases the origin is unknown. (more…)

The data shown here are data for a new-born forward, parents “normal”:

• Average weight: 3300g
• Average size: 50cm
• Head circumference: 35 cm
• Members flexed, hands closed
• Skin covered with a variable amount of vernix caseosa (sebaceous white fatty substance)
• cyanosis of the extremities often
• Fine hairs on the forehead, cheeks, shoulders and back, called lanugo
• jaundice frequently to 2-3 days, physiological
• perception of fontanelles
• Respiratory rate 20 to 60/min
• Short neck, large tongue, glottis and anterior very high (risk of difficulty in intubation)
• Heart rate of 120 to 160/min
• Systolic blood pressure NNE at approximately 70mmHg (PAM = Term)
• APGAR test near or equal to 10 (see table), assessed at 1 minute and 5 minutes.

(more…)