Spontaneous preterm birth includes birth that follows preterm labor, preterm spontaneous rupture of membranes, and cervical insufficiency, but does not include indicated preterm delivery for maternal or fetal conditions (5). The preterm birth rate (birth at less than 37 completed weeks of gestation per 100 total births) increased more than 20% from 1990 to 2006. However, decreases in birth rate...

Tracheobronchomalacia is a treatable cause of persisting ventilatory requirements in the preterm neonate, and warrants a high index of suspicion. Five preterm infants with persisting ventilatory requirements with evidence of tracheobronchomalacia are reported. Four were diagnosed by tracheobronchogram and one by flexible endoscopy. All were successfully managed by continuous positive airway pre...

Failure of the ductus arteriosus to close within 48-96 hours of postnatal age results in a left to right shunt across the ductus and overloading of the pulmonary circulation. This is more likely to happen in premature neonates with respiratory distress syndrome. Deterioration in the respiratory status on day 3-4 in a ventilated neonate and unexplained metabolic acidosis may be the earliest indi...

While the preterm neonate continues to benefit from improved perinatal care, the rate of preterm birth in the United States remains significant. An increasing body of scientific literature has demonstrated the benefits of maternal progesterone administration in reducing primary and recurrent preterm birth. Intramuscular hydroxyprogesterone caproate is indicated in singleton pregnancies in women...