Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS) in Newborns with Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE)

Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) are frequent causes of death and disability in neonates. This study included newborns between January 2021 and July 2022 at the University Clinic for Gynecology and Obstetrics, Skopje. Up to date criteria for HIE/RDS for term and for preterm infants as well for the severity of HIE/RDS were used in a comprehensive analysis of cranial ultrasonography, neurological status, neonatal infections, Apgar score, bradycardia and hypotension, X-ray of the lungs, FiO2, acid-base status, assisted ventilation and use of surfactant.

Three groups were created: HIE with RDS (42 babies), HIE without RDS (30 babies) and RDS without HIE in 38 neonates. All newborns with severe (third) degree of HIE died. Intracranial bleeding was found in 35.7% in the first group and 30% in the second group, and in the third group in 53.3%. The need for surfactant in the HIE group with RDS is 59.5%, and in the RDS group without HIE 84.2%. DIC associated with sepsis was found in 13.1-50% in those groups. In newborns with HIE and bradycardia, the probability of having RDS was on average 3.2 times higher than in those without bradycardia.

The application of the surfactant significantly improved the pH, pO2, pCO2, BE and chest X-ray in children with RDS. An Apgar score less than 6 at the fifth minute increases the risk of RDS by 3 times. The metabolic acidosis in the first 24 hours increases the risk of death by 23.6 times. The combination of HIE/ RDS significantly worsens the disease outcome. The use of scoring systems improved the early detection of high risk babies and initiation of early treatment increased the chances for survival without disabilities.