And Answers
asphyxia
✓~ Insufficient oxygen and excess carbon dioxide in the blood and tissues.
bilirubin encephalopathy
✓~ Acute manifestation of bilirubin toxicity occurring in the first weeks after birth.
erythroblastosis fetalis
✓~ Agglutination and hemolysis of fetal erythrocytes caused by incompatibility
between the maternal and fetal blood types, such as when the fetus is Rh-positive and
the mother is Rh-negative.
esophageal atresia
✓~ Condition in which the esophagus is separated from the stomach and ends in a
blind pouch.
,gastroschisis
✓~ Protrusion of the intestines through a defect in the abdominal wall. The intestines
are not covered by a peritoneal sac or skin.
hydrops fetalis
✓~ Heart failure and generalized edema in the fetus secondary to severe anemia
resulting from destruction of erythrocytes.
kernicterus
✓~ Chronic and permanent result of bilirubin toxicity.
meningocele
✓~ Protrusion of the meninges through a defect in the vertebrae; a form of neural
tube defect.
myelomeningocele
✓~ Protrusion of the meninges and spinal cord through a defect in the vertebrae; a
form of neural tube defect.
,neonatal abstinence syndrome
✓~ A cluster of physical signs exhibited by newborns exposed in utero to maternal
use of substances such as heroin.
omphalocele
✓~ Protrusion of the intestines into the base of the umbilical cord. The intestines are
covered by a peritoneal sac.
persistent pulmonary hypertension
✓~ Vasoconstriction of the infant's pulmonary vessels after birth; may result in right-
to-left shunting of blood flow through the ductus arteriosus, the foramen ovale, or
both.
spina bifida
✓~ Defective closure of the bony spine that encloses the spinal cord; a type of neural
tube defect.
tracheoesophageal fistula
, ✓~ Abnormal connection between the esophagus and trachea.
transient tachypnea of the newborn
✓~ Condition of rapid respirations caused by inadequate absorption of fetal lung
fluid.
How is TTN different from RDS?
✓~ Transient tachypnea of the newborn is thought to be caused by failure of fetal
lung fluid to be absorbed completely in late preterm, full-term, or preterm infants.
Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) occurs in preterm infants as a result of
inadequate surfactant. It is less serious than RDS but is the most common respiratory
cause of NICU admission.
Why is there resistance of blood flow into the lungs in PPHN?
✓~ Infants with PPHN have constriction of the pulmonary blood vessels from
inadequate oxygen levels. This increases resistance to blood flow into the lungs and
causes blood to flow through the foramen ovale and patent ductus arteriosus.
How can kernicterus be prevented?