A baby boy is born at 29 weeks gestation. He weighs 2 kg. He is admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit with respiratory distress, nasal flaring, and grunting. His oxygen requirement has increased to 70%. a. What pathologic process should be suspected?
b. What medication is indicated, and when and how should it be given?
c. Would this be considered prophylactic or rescue therapy?
d. What patient parameters should be monitored before and after medication administration?

Explanation:

a.

A 29 weeks baby boy called to be called a preterm baby. At this stage, the lung is not fully matured and this can result in a neonatal respiratory disorder leading to lowering or reduction in the amount of oxygen saturation.

b.

The baby should be administered a steroid such as methylprednisolone for the maturation of the lung.

c.

Prophylactic.

Provided that the baby is preterm and underweight, it is necessary to give a womb-like condition.

The newborn baby needs to be supplied with sufficient oxygen to satisfy the oxygen demand and also be administered with steroids to aid lung maturation.

d.

There is a need to carry out the lung maturation test as well as the oxygen saturation test prior to the administration of the drug to the preterm baby and after the treatment.

This helps to testify to how efficient and effective the treatment outcome was.