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Lung surfactant in amniotic fluid, and hence the maturity of the fetal lungs, can be assessed by observation of stable microbubbles (less than 15 micron diameter). Bubbles are formed by agitation with a Pasteur pipette and examined in hanging drops under the 10 x power of a microscope. Either after a count of bubbles, or after a general survey of hanging drops, the fluid is given a stable microbubble rating. A 'strong' rating indicates that the idiopathic respiratory distress syndrome will not occur after delivery, and that the lecithin/sphingomyelin ratio will indicate maturity. Complete absence of stable microbubbles suggests a high risk of respiratory trouble for the newborn infant, as does a weak or lower rating in the 30 to 37 week gestational age group. The test takes 5 to 10 minutes to perform, is cheap and easy, is not affected by blood, but may be affected by meconium. If a 'strong' rating is found, measurement of the L/S ratio can safely be omitted.
R E Pattle, and
C C Kratzing, and
C E Parkinson, and
L Graves, and
R D Robertson, and
G J Robards, and
J O Currie, and
J H Parsons, and
P D Sutherland
October 1986,
American journal of perinatology,
R E Pattle, and
C C Kratzing, and
C E Parkinson, and
L Graves, and
R D Robertson, and
G J Robards, and
J O Currie, and
J H Parsons, and
P D Sutherland
January 1985,
AMB : revista da Associacao Medica Brasileira,
R E Pattle, and
C C Kratzing, and
C E Parkinson, and
L Graves, and
R D Robertson, and
G J Robards, and
J O Currie, and
J H Parsons, and
P D Sutherland
September 1971,
Obstetrics and gynecology,
R E Pattle, and
C C Kratzing, and
C E Parkinson, and
L Graves, and
R D Robertson, and
G J Robards, and
J O Currie, and
J H Parsons, and
P D Sutherland
February 1973,
JFMA, the Journal of the Florida Medical Association. Florida Medical Association,
R E Pattle, and
C C Kratzing, and
C E Parkinson, and
L Graves, and
R D Robertson, and
G J Robards, and
J O Currie, and
J H Parsons, and
P D Sutherland
January 1976,
The Journal of reproductive medicine,
R E Pattle, and
C C Kratzing, and
C E Parkinson, and
L Graves, and
R D Robertson, and
G J Robards, and
J O Currie, and
J H Parsons, and
P D Sutherland
June 1969,
Southern medical journal,
R E Pattle, and
C C Kratzing, and
C E Parkinson, and
L Graves, and
R D Robertson, and
G J Robards, and
J O Currie, and
J H Parsons, and
P D Sutherland
August 1971,
Revista chilena de pediatria,
R E Pattle, and
C C Kratzing, and
C E Parkinson, and
L Graves, and
R D Robertson, and
G J Robards, and
J O Currie, and
J H Parsons, and
P D Sutherland
January 1971,
Annales chirurgiae et gynaecologiae Fenniae,
R E Pattle, and
C C Kratzing, and
C E Parkinson, and
L Graves, and
R D Robertson, and
G J Robards, and
J O Currie, and
J H Parsons, and
P D Sutherland
January 1970,
Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica,
R E Pattle, and
C C Kratzing, and
C E Parkinson, and
L Graves, and
R D Robertson, and
G J Robards, and
J O Currie, and
J H Parsons, and
P D Sutherland
December 1972,
American journal of obstetrics and gynecology,
