Clinical Programs
Chronic Lung Disease: Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia
Many low birth weight babies still require mechanical ventilation despite the advent of therapies such as surfactant and antepartum corticosteroids. Bronchopulmonary dysplasia is a dominant pulmonary disease of newborns, and the incidence of this chronic lung disease increases with decreasing gestation. Chronic ventilator-dependent infants require highly specialized care if they are to realize full recovery potential.
To meet this growing need, a multidisciplinary team was formed in 1994 for the care of chronic ventilator-dependent infants at the Texas Children's Hospital Newborn Center. The Chronic Pulmonary Care Team combines the expertise of board-certified neonatologists from Baylor College of Medicine with numerous specialists in newborn care from Texas Children's. The team includes
- a consulting pediatric pulmonologist,
- primary care nurses and nurse practitioners,
- respiratory therapists,
- a unit-based pharmacist,
- a dietitian, and
- a physician-directed nutrition support team.
The team also is served by social workers, a case resource manager, child life specialists, and physical and occupational therapists.
Patients receive care in a family-centered environment that is designed to optimize control of noise and light. The team meets every other week to evaluate each patient and to discuss pulmonary, nutritional, and developmental needs. The advice and recommendations of the team are goal-oriented and maintain consistency in the long-term care of each patient.
The severity of bronchopulmonary dysplasia has decreased in recent years and current evidence suggests mortality rates are falling. Even infants who require long-term ventilation have a favorable outlook for recovery because they continue to have further lung growth and development during the second year of life and beyond.
