How to Diagnose Hyaline Membrane Disease

Hyaline membrane disease is a respiratory condition that commonly affects premature babies. When the fetus is 24 to 28 weeks into gestation, a substance called surfactant is produced by the cells in the lungs to keep the air sacs open for breathing. When there is insufficient surfactant, the air sacs in the lungs collapse with each breath, making it difficult for the baby to breath. Read on to find out how to diagnose hyaline membrane disease.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Assess the skin color of the baby for respiratory abnormalities. Look for a bluish hue on the skin or tongue caused by restricted oxygen supply.
2. Watch for tachypnea where the respiratory rate is greater than 60 breaths per minute. The breathing is rapid and labored with grunting sounds, along with chest retractions and flaring of nostrils. Breathing gets progressively worse within 8 hours of birth.
3. Do a gastric aspirate shake test to determine the amount of surfactant present in the lungs within 30 minutes of birth. A negative result shows insufficient surfactant indicating hyaline membrane disease.
4. Obtain a chest X-ray to monitor a glassy pattern in the lungs and increased areas of lung opacity in the anterior portions. As the respiratory condition gets severe, the lungs appear opaque causing an obstruction to the cardiac outline.
5. Perform tests to study the arterial blood gases and determine decreased circulation of oxygen and increased amount of carbon dioxide.
6. Conduct lung function studies and an echocardiogram to evaluate lung volume. Upper abdominal ultrasonography is done to study the extent of opacification of the lungs to determine the course of action.