ABSTRACT
To determine the prevalence, disease pattern and outcome of admitted newborns presented with respiratory distress to Neonatal unit of Suez Canal University Hospital [SCUH], Ismailia, Egypt. This descriptive study was conducted in the neonatal intensive care unit [NICU] of Suez Canal University Hospital. Data of all neonatal admissions during the period from January 2007 to December 2007 was recorded and analyzed for age, weight at the time of admission, sex, and reason for admission [diagnosis], duration of hospital stay, course during stay and final outcome of these patients. This study included 330 Neonates admitted to the Neonatal unit of S.C.U.H because of respiratory distress during a period of one year [2007]. One hundred thirty five patients were preterm [40.9%] and 195 patients [59.1%] were full term. The male to female ratio was 1.3:1. The mean postnatal age of the patients on admission was 3.2 days and their body weights ranged from 950 grams to 4560 grains with mean of 2880 grams. The most common diagnosis was respiratory distress syndrome [RDS] [40.9%] then Transient tachypnea of newborn [TTN] [24.5%]. The majority of them had mild respiratory distress [66.7%] while 17.3% had severe RD. Sixty three patients [19%] needed ventilatory support. Most of them required both of synchronized intermittent mechanical ventilation [SIMV] and continuous positive airway pressure [CPAP] [66.6%]. Regarding the outcome of these patients, it was found that 75.5% of them were discharged well while death occurred in 20.9%. The most common cause of death was RDS [30.3%]. Respiratory distress is a very common problem in the neonatal intensive care units and it is a serious condition needs efficient intervention at a proper time, Respiratory distress can be prevented by better antenatal care to reduce the incidence of prematurity, which causes respiratory distress syndrome that is the commonest cause of respiratory distress in the newborns