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What is persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn? — This is a rare condition that causes serious breathing problems in newborn babies. It happens when the blood vessels that carry blood to the lungs do not widen like they should after birth. This can cause problems if it is not treated. In severe cases, it can even lead to death, although this is not very common.
What are the symptoms of persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn? — Symptoms appear soon after birth, usually while the baby is still in the hospital. They might include:
●Fast breathing
●In babies with light skin, the skin or lips look blue.
●In babies with dark skin, the lips look blue or darker than normal.
●The fluid that surrounded the baby during delivery is stained with a bowel movement (called "meconium") from the baby.
Will my baby need tests? — Yes. The main test is an "echocardiogram." This is an imaging test that uses sound waves to create pictures of the heart as it beats.
Your baby might also need other tests, including:
●Chest X-ray
●Blood test
●Electrocardiogram (also called "ECG") – This test measures the electrical activity of the heart.
How is persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn treated? — Treatment happens in the hospital. This might include:
●Oxygen – Oxygen can be given different ways, including through:
•A plastic hood put over the baby's head
•2 plastic tubes put in the baby's nostrils
•A mask over the baby's mouth and nose – This is called "continuous positive airway pressure," or "CPAP".
●Breathing support – The doctor puts a tube in the baby's throat. The tube connects to a machine that helps the baby breathe. This machine is called a "ventilator."
●Inhaled nitric oxide – This is a gas that is given through the ventilator. It helps widen the baby's blood vessels.
●ECMO – ECMO is a special treatment done only for very serious cases that do not get better with other treatments. During the treatment, the baby is connected to a machine. The machine takes the baby's blood out little by little, adds oxygen to it, and then returns it to the baby.
What will my baby's life be like? — Many babies with persistent pulmonary hypertension have normal lives. But babies with very serious forms of the condition or those who need ECMO might have hearing problems or "developmental delays." This means that they take longer to do things that other children the same age can do, such as walking and talking.
