Rapid Review: Transient Tachypnea of the Newborn

Transient Tachypnea of the Newborn

• Patient will be a child shortly after birth
• Sudden onset of difficulty breathing
• PE will show tachypnea, nasal flaring, retractions, and hypoxia
• CXR will show parenchymal infiltrates and fluid in the pulmonary fissures
• Most commonly caused by residual pulmonary fluid
• Treatment is supportive, self-resolving within 72 hours
• Comments: Most common cause of neonatal respiratory distress

Sample question:

A full-term male infant is delivered by cesarean section because of dystocia due to macrosomia. Apgar scores are 8 and 10. An hour after delivery he begins to have tachypnea without hypoxemia. A chest radiograph shows diffuse parenchymal infiltrates and fluid in the pulmonary fissures. The symptoms resolve without treatment within 24 hours. What is the most likely diagnosis?