Patient education: Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (The Basics)

What is bronchopulmonary dysplasia? — 

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia, or "BPD," is a serious disease that causes breathing problems. It happens in babies who are born early and have a lung condition called "respiratory distress syndrome," or "RDS."

How do doctors usually find BPD? — 

Babies who get BPD are already in a part of the hospital called the "neonatal intensive care unit," or "NICU." That's because they have RDS. Doctors and nurses in the NICU take care of newborn babies who are sick or were born too early. They watch babies with RDS for signs that their breathing problems are not going away.

A baby has BPD if they still have breathing problems 4 weeks before their original due date. Signs that a baby still has problems include:

●Needing extra oxygen

●Needing a machine to help with breathing

Will my child need tests? — 

Yes. Babies in the NICU get daily exams. If a baby has breathing problems, they will also get chest X-rays. These can show signs of BPD.

How is BPD treated? — 

Most babies get better in 2 to 4 months. Depending on your baby's situation, the doctors might keep giving treatments to make sure they get enough oxygen. These treatments include:

●Using a breathing machine

●Giving extra oxygen through a special hood, tubes in the nose, or a face mask

Other treatments can include:

●Giving breast milk or formula that has extra nutrition – Babies who have BPD need more energy than other babies.

●Giving less fluid – This can help the baby's lungs work better because it can lower the amount of fluid in their lungs. If this does not work well, doctors can also give medicines called "diuretics" to help pull fluid out of their lungs. This makes breathing easier. But these medicines are usually not needed.

If your baby has BPD, they might be in the hospital for several weeks or months after birth. The doctors and nurses in the NICU can help you spend time with your baby while they are there.

Babies with BPD might have other medical problems after they leave the hospital. These can include:

●High blood pressure – This usually lasts about 4 months.

●Eye and ear problems

●Heart problems

●Development problems – Babies who had BPD might not learn to do normal activities as quickly as other babies the same age.

The doctors and nurses in the NICU will watch for these problems and help you and your baby get treatment if needed.

Can BPD be prevented? — 

Doctors can do some things to lower a baby's risk of getting RDS. This is important because having RDS is what puts a baby at risk for BPD. Doctors can:

●Give you steroid medicines if you are pregnant and might have your baby early – This lowers the risk that your baby will get RDS.

●Give your baby treatments to lower the risk of RDS, such as:

•Using a "continuous positive airway pressure," or "CPAP," machine to help your baby breathe

•Giving your baby a "surfactant" medicine to help their lungs work better

More on this topic

Patient education: What to expect in the NICU (The Basics)
Patient education: When a baby is born premature (The Basics)
Patient education: Benefits of breast milk for premature babies (The Basics)
Patient education: How to plan and prepare for a healthy pregnancy (The Basics)