Vol. 5, Issue 7, Part E (2019)

Abstract
This prospective hospital based study was conducted on 100 preterm neonates delivered in Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and admitted to Neonatology section of Department of Pediatrics, Govt. Medical College/Rajindra Hospital Patiala. The surfactant maturation was estimated by Shake Bubble Stability Test on gastric aspirate. The respiratory status of babies was determined on the basis of clinical definition of Respiratory Distress in a newborn after observing for 6 hours after birth. Surfactant maturation, as reflected by shake bubble test, had a significant correlation with gestational age (p<0.001). 31% of the study neonates had RD and the incidence of respiratory distress varied significantly with shake bubble grades (p=0.0001) i.e. the immature the surfactant status of a newborn, the more likely it is to suffer from respiratory distress. With gestational age (r= 0.650, p=0.0001) i.e. lesser the gestational age of a newborn, immature would be its surfactant. The incidence and severity of respiratory distress had a significant inverse correlation with surfactant maturation, reflected by increasing shake bubble grade, (r= - 0.546, p<0.001), i.e. immature the surfactant status of a newborn, more would be the incidence and severity of R.D. in the newborn. The respiratory status of a neonate varied significantly with shake bubble grades (p=0.046 for birth weight < 1000g, p<0.001 for 1000-1499g, p<0.001 for 1500-1999g, p=0.004 for 2000-2499g).Incidence and severity of respiratory distress varied significantly with birth asphyxia (p<0.001). Key Words: Preterm, Surfactant, Respiratory distress.