DELAYED CLEARANCE OF PULMONARY FLUID IN THE NEONATE

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 57  (1) , 63-67
Abstract
A consecutive series of 647 routine neonatal chest X-ray films taken within 48 h of birth was reviewed: 48% had been radiographed within 2 h. Most (427) had normal X-ray films, 147 showed evidence of delayed clearance of pulmonary fluid and other diseases were present in 73. Excessive amounts of pulmonary fluid were not rare in neonates radiographed within 2 h and were not necessarily associated with symptoms. Low birthweight and prematurity are a predisposition to delayed clearance of pulmonary fluid; with birthweights > 2.3 kg, excess of pulmonary fluid is unlikely. Persistence of pleural fluid was more common in the right than the left lung. While radiologically there was no difference in the sex incidence of delayed clearance, symptoms were more common in boys.