Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD) and Chronic Lung Disease (CLD)

• Babies who require breathing support for any reason in the first few days are very susceptible to getting BPD/CLD. An air leak or an infection increases the chances of developing BPD.
• Symptoms may include:
  • Laboured breathing
  • Needing more breathing support (eg. increased CPAP or BiPAP)
  • Needing more oxygen to stay at normal levels
• Treatment includes:
  • Supported breathing
  • Ensuring full nutrition for lung repair and growth
  • Water medicine to reduce excess fluid in lungs
  • Inhalers to dilate the breathing tubes
  • Most babies with BPD/CLD require additional oxygen for several weeks and rarely continue to need oxygen when leaving the hospital.
• Over time, the majority of babies with BPD/CLD outgrow their lung problems.

Reference: 

AbbVie Corporation (Ed.). (2015). Preemie Parent Handbook (4th ed.). Canada: AbbVie Corportation.