Newborn’s respiratory distress : the experience of the Neonatalogy and Neonatal intensive care ward of the University Hospital of Libreville – Gabon:

Introduction: Few studies on respiratory distress in neonates (RDN) have been conducted in Gabon. In order to improve the management of this condition, we propose to carry out this work. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of DRNN, highlight the risk factors and evaluate the quality of the management of this pathology. Material and methods: A retrospective and descriptive including all newborns with respiratory distress and admitted to the ward during a 3 years period. Results: Of the 661 hospitalized patients, 201 were admitted for respiratory distress, ie a prevalence of 30.4%. Respiratory distress was severe in 22.1% of cases. The most common functional sign was polypnea (38.4%). The associated signs were hyperthermia (34.2%), jaundice (18.4%) and hypotonia (12.1%). Peri-natal asphyxia was diagnosed in 12.1% of cases. Treatment was dominated by oxygen therapy with goggles or Hood (95.3%); CPAP was used once and artificial ventilation 8 times (4.2%). The hospitalization delay was less than 12 hours (45.3%). The mortality rate was 41.6%. Factors related to death in case of respiratory distress were: prematurity, low birth weight, and severity of respiratory distress. Conclusion: Neonatal respiratory distress remains a frequent pathology of the perinatal period, its high mortality requires an appropriate antenatal and postnatal care urgent to improve the vital prognosis of the newborns.