What is Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia?

Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD) is a type of lung disease that some premature infants get during the first few months of life. Premature infants often need extra oxygen and help in breathing the first few days of life. BPD seems to be a reaction of the baby's lungs to the oxygen and the pressure used to keep his lungs working normally. We still don't know why premaature babies get this disease. We don't have any way of preventing it. We do know that the more oxygen and/or pressure that the baby needs over the first weeks of life, the greater the risk of BPD.

The name Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia describes what is going on inside the baby's lungs. "Broncho" refers to the airways of tubes that lead to the lungs. "Pulmonary" refers to the air sacs where the actual work of the lungs is carried out.

"Dysplasia" means abnormal growth. In BPD both the airways and the actual lung tissue grow abnormally. This abnormal growth usually means the lungs do not work as they should. The abnormal parts may only be a small part of the lung or most of the lung. Having lung disease makes it more difficult to breathe. Therefore, children with BPD will often breathe faster than normal and with more effort. Children with BPD may also cough and wheeze like those with asthma. Without extra oxygen their color may appear blue. Children with BPD usually get sicker than children with healthy lungs when they get a cold.

Treatment

When we work with children with BPD we are trying to do a number of things:

1. Make sure the child is getting enough oxygen.
2. Improve lung function so it is easier to breathe.
3. Prevent worsening of lung function during colds and other infections.
4. Make sure the child is gaining weight and growing as normally as possible.
5. Provide appropriate activities to promote physical and mental development.
6. Help the family deal with the many questions, concerns and fears they may have about their child.