B. Laubscher et al., SERIAL LUNG-VOLUME MEASUREMENTS DURING THE PERINATAL-PERIOD IN INFANTS WITH ABDOMINAL-WALL DEFECTS, Journal of pediatric surgery, 33(3), 1998, pp. 497-499
Methods: Daily measurements of lung volume (functional residual capaci
ty, FRC) were made during the perinatal period in eight infants (media
n gestational age, 37 weeks; range, 34 to 38 weeks) with abdominal wal
l defects. Results: On the first day of life and before surgical inter
vention, four infants had FRCs below the reference range; the occurren
ce of low lung volumes was not significantly related to gestational ag
e or diagnosis. Lung volume was further, but only temporarily, impaire
d by surgical closure of the abdominal wall defect, with a reduction i
n the median FRC from 25 mL/kg (range, 18 to 36) preoperatively to 12
mL/kg (range, 5 to 19) on the first postoperative day (P <.02). Conclu
sion: These data are consistent with abnormal antenatal lung growth in
certain infants with abdominal wall defects. Copyright (C) 1998 by W.
B. Saunders Company.