|
Neonatal Problems: Primary Pulmonary hypertension
 |
Description
Pulmonary hypertension means that the pressure within the blood
vessels of the lung is high, which prevents the normal amount
of blood from flowing into the lungs.
In a neonate with primary pulmonary hypertension (PPHN; as known as Persistence
of the Foetal Circulation ), the normal changes in
the flow of blood following birth do not occur as they should. Instead, the baby's blood
continues to circulate as it did before birth. It does this because there
is an abnormally large amount of muscle in the tiny blood vessels going
to the lungs preventing much blood from flowing into them. It is easier
for the blood to continue to flow as it did before birth.
Often the cause of PPHN is unknown but some known reasons for this disorder
occurring include: severe underdevelopment of the lungs; ; certain heart abnormalities.
Symptoms are initially similar to , but instead of rapidly improving, the baby
rapidly gets worse, needing higher and higher oxygen to stay pink.
The treatment of PPHN is often difficult and must be tailored to the
needs of the baby.
For further, more detailed information on this topic,
please refer to the reference source for this page.
The information in this page is presented in summarised form and has been taken
from the following source(s):
1.
University of Wisconsin and The Center For Perinatal Care at Meriter Hospital
Madison, Wisconsin:
|
|
|
 From
(websites)
From
(def;articles & more)
Recent articles
from
|  |
|
Introduction
