Bronchopulmonary dysplasia

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia
Radiograph of bronchopulmonary dysplasia
Specialty	Pediatrics
Causes	Long-term high oxygen supplementation

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD; part of the spectrum of chronic lung disease of infancy) is a chronic lung disease which affects premature infants. Premature (preterm) infants who require treatment with supplemental oxygen or require long-term oxygen are at a higher risk.^[1] The alveoli that are present tend to not be mature enough to function normally.^[2] It is also more common in infants with low birth weight (LBW) and those who receive prolonged mechanical ventilation to treat respiratory distress syndrome. It results in significant morbidity and mortality. The definition of bronchopulmonary dysplasia has continued to evolve primarily due to changes in the population, such as more survivors at earlier gestational ages, and improved neonatal management including surfactant, antenatal glucocorticoid therapy, and less aggressive mechanical ventilation.^[3]

Currently the description of bronchopulmonary dysplasia includes the grading of its severity into mild, moderate and severe. This correlates with the infant's maturity, growth and overall severity of illness.^[4] The new system offers a better description of underlying pulmonary disease and its severity.^[5]

"The term 'bronchopulmonary dysplasia' was first used by [William] Northway et al. in 1967 to describe a chronic form of injury to the lungs caused by barotrauma and oxygen injury in preterm infants requiring mechanical ventilation."^[6]