Biomaterial Database

Predicting respiratory distress by thin-layer chromatography of the newborn gastric aspirate. 1976

D Armstrong, and D E Van Wormer, and W P Gideon

The analysis of gastric fluid from newborns for lecithin/sphingomyelin (L/S) ratio evaluation is useful in determining whether respiratory distress will follow an early delivery. Without exception, the L/S ratios obtained on 14 gastric aspirates paralleled and were slightly higher than intrapartum values obtained from corresponding amniotic fluids (5.6 vs 3.7). Of 46 normal infants, only 1 had a gastric aspirate L/S ratio less than 2:1. No false positive results were found. The obstetrician can easily obtain gastric fluid at delivery, and by ordering an L/S ratio determination, the neonatologist can have an estimation of lung surfactant levels within 2 hours after birth. In cases where true respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) must be differentiated from other problems of respiratory distress, this information can assist in the early management of patients with RDS. Even after the development of RDS, the procedure offers a prognostic tool which the clinician can use in discussing the outcome with the parents.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007231	Infant, Newborn	An infant during the first 28 days after birth.	Neonate,Newborns,Infants, Newborn,Neonates,Newborn,Newborn Infant,Newborn Infants
D007235	Infant, Premature, Diseases	Diseases that occur in PREMATURE INFANTS.
D010713	Phosphatidylcholines	Derivatives of PHOSPHATIDIC ACIDS in which the phosphoric acid is bound in ester linkage to a CHOLINE moiety.	Choline Phosphoglycerides,Choline Glycerophospholipids,Phosphatidyl Choline,Phosphatidyl Cholines,Phosphatidylcholine,Choline, Phosphatidyl,Cholines, Phosphatidyl,Glycerophospholipids, Choline,Phosphoglycerides, Choline
D011247	Pregnancy	The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH.	Gestation,Pregnancies
D011296	Prenatal Diagnosis	Determination of the nature of a pathological condition or disease in the postimplantation EMBRYO; FETUS; or pregnant female before birth.	Diagnosis, Prenatal,Fetal Diagnosis,Fetal Imaging,Fetal Screening,Intrauterine Diagnosis,Antenatal Diagnosis,Antenatal Screening,Diagnosis, Antenatal,Diagnosis, Intrauterine,Prenatal Screening,Antenatal Diagnoses,Antenatal Screenings,Diagnosis, Fetal,Fetal Diagnoses,Fetal Imagings,Fetal Screenings,Imaging, Fetal,Intrauterine Diagnoses,Prenatal Diagnoses,Prenatal Screenings,Screening, Antenatal,Screening, Fetal,Screening, Prenatal
D011379	Prognosis	A prediction of the probable outcome of a disease based on a individual's condition and the usual course of the disease as seen in similar situations.	Prognostic Factor,Prognostic Factors,Factor, Prognostic,Factors, Prognostic,Prognoses
D012127	Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn	A condition of the newborn marked by DYSPNEA with CYANOSIS, heralded by such prodromal signs as dilatation of the alae nasi, expiratory grunt, and retraction of the suprasternal notch or costal margins, mostly frequently occurring in premature infants, children of diabetic mothers, and infants delivered by cesarean section, and sometimes with no apparent predisposing cause.	Infantile Respiratory Distress Syndrome,Neonatal Respiratory Distress Syndrome,Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Infant
D002855	Chromatography, Thin Layer	Chromatography on thin layers of adsorbents rather than in columns. The adsorbent can be alumina, silica gel, silicates, charcoals, or cellulose. (McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 4th ed)	Chromatography, Thin-Layer,Thin Layer Chromatography,Chromatographies, Thin Layer,Chromatographies, Thin-Layer,Thin Layer Chromatographies,Thin-Layer Chromatographies,Thin-Layer Chromatography
D003720	Densitometry	The measurement of the density of a material by measuring the amount of light or radiation passing through (or absorbed by) the material.	Densitometries
D005260	Female		Females