Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia- Definition and Treatment Update
Premature birth is the leading cause of neonatal intensive care unit admissions, with a high burden of disease and more than $13 billion in health care cost annually in the US. Advances in neonatal medicine such as “gentle ventilation", surfactant therapy, and antenatal corticosteroids have improved survival, particularly in very preterm infants born <32 weeks gestational age (GA). With improved survival, the prevalence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is increasing and results in lifelong cardiopulmonary sequelae that overlap with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and pulmonary hypertension.
Because of the lifelong cardiopulmonary disease, the Cincinnati Children’s BPD Center follows all patients with BPD with annual assessments of pulmonary function and screenings for pulmonary hypertension. If you have a patient with BPD that is not being followed for chronic cardiopulmonary complications please refer them to the BPD Center in the notes section of the referral form, or call Laura Bellows at 513-803-8564.