Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 29, 2026

A Novel Rescue Technique for Difficult Intubation and Difficult Ventilation
Published on: January 17, 2011
Transient respiratory difficulty following cesarian delivery
57 newborn infants delivered by planned, repeat cesarian section were studied to determine the role of surfactant in transient neonatal respiratory distress. 22.8% of the newborn infants studied had transient tachypnea of the newborn. The mean amniotic fluid lecithin-sphingomyelin ratio (L/S) was 2.8 in normal infants and 2.6 in infants with transient tachypnea. The mean gastric aspirate L/S at the time of delivery was 3.0 in the normal infants and 2.7 in infants with transient tachypnea. There were no statistically significant differences in either amniotic fluid L/S or gastric aspirate L/S. Based on these results we speculate that, despite altered lung mechanics in neonates with transient tachypnea, lung maturity as determined by L/S ratio does not differ from that of normal neonates.
57 newborn infants delivered by planned, repeat cesarian section were studied to determine the role of surfactant in transient neonatal respiratory distress. 22.8% of the newborn infants studied had transient tachypnea of the newborn. The mean amniotic fluid lecithin-sphingomyelin ratio (L/S) was 2.8 in normal infants and 2.6 in infants with transient tachypnea. The mean gastric aspirate L/S at the time of delivery was 3.0 in the normal infants and 2.7 in infants with transient tachypnea. There were no statistically significant differences in either amniotic fluid L/S or gastric aspirate L/S. Based on these results we speculate that, despite altered lung mechanics in neonates with transient tachypnea, lung maturity as determined by L/S ratio does not differ from that of normal neonates.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Pulmonary Cycle: Exhalation
Acute Respiratory Failure-III
Acute Respiratory Failure-IV
Endoscopic Studies II: Thoracocentesis
Description
Excess pleural fluid or air may accumulate in some respiratory disorders in the thoracic cavity. To treat pleural effusion, a physician conducts thoracentesis by carefully piercing the chest wall and entering...
Suctioning the Nasopharyngeal Airway
Equipment Required
Endotracheal Tube Extubation
Procedure
Extubation removes the endotracheal tube (ETT) from the patient on mechanical ventilation. It requires a well-coordinated, multidisciplinary approach involving physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, and other healthcare professionals.

