EFFECTIVE PULMONARY CAPILLARY BLOOD FLOW IN INFANTS WITH BIRTH ASPHYXIA

Abstract
Effective pulmonary capillary blood flow was measured on the 1st day of life in 20 term infants with birth asphyxia and 25 normal term infants. The infants studied showed no clinical or laboratory evidence of respiratory distress. The mean effective pulmonary capillary blood flow of 121 ml/kg per min in the birth asphyxia group was significantly lower than the mean of 162 ml/kg per min in the normal group. The possible relationship of birth asphyxia and pulmonary hypoperfusion in the etiology of the idiopathic respiratory distress syndrome is discussed.