One of the most common and immediate
problems facing premature infants is difficulty breathing. Although there are
many causes of breathing difficulties in premature infants, the most common is
called respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). In RDS, the infant's immature lungs
do not produce enough of an important substance called surfactant. Surfactant
allows the inner surface of the lungs to expand properly when the infant makes
the change from the womb to breathing air after birth. Fortunately, RDS is
treatable and many infants do quite well. When premature delivery cannot be
stopped, most pregnant women can be given medication just before delivery to
help prevent RDS. Then, immediately after birth and several times later,
artificial surfactant can be given to the infant. Although most premature babies
who lack surfactant will require a breathing machine, or ventilator, for a
while, the use of artificial surfactant has greatly decreased the amount of time
that infants spend on the ventilator.
