From respiratory adaptation at birth to early markers of childhood respiratory health

Abstract

Assessing lung function in the newborn relates to the need for early markers of chronic respiratory diseases such as cystic fibrosis or asthma. Non-invasive respiratory measurements of forced oscillations mechanics are recently shown to be possible in unsedated babies. The bronchodilator effect of catecholamine release at birth, and the respiratory muscle contribution to respiratory mechanical impedance resulting in sometimes excessive variability suggest that measurements should be performed beyond the first 24 hr of life.