Background: Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is a frequent source of respiratory distress in newborns that manifests within hours after birth, usually just after delivering. Preterm newborns and, on rare occasions, mature babies are affected with RDS. Numerous studies have established the value of Doppler as a non-invasive means of assessing pulmonary artery pressure in newborns and adults. Furthermore, the pulmonary vasculature grows with the lung during pregnancy, with both the actual number of pulmonary arteries and the pulmonary artery vascular resistance decreasing somewhat.
Aim of the study: To see whether fetal pulmonary indices might predict newborn respiratory distress syndrome in patients undergoing elective cesarean section between 38- and 39-weeks' gestation.
Patients and methods: This was a cross-sectional prospective research which was carried in al- Hussein hospital from October 2020 till April 2021. This study included 100 pregnant women.
Results: The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of different variables of U/S to predict RDs showed that umbilical artery RI and PI had sensitivity 78.0%; 65.0%, specificity 70.0' 70.0 and accuracy 75.0%; 67% respectively. Middle cerebral artery RI and PI to predict RDs had sensitivity 80.0%; 75.0%, specificity 75.0; 70.0 and accuracy 76.0%; 72% respectively. The At/Et ratio showed a sensitivity 95.0%, specificity 90.0 and accuracy was 93.0%.
Conclusion: The current investigation found that fetal PA-derived Ultrasonographic characteristics may accurately predict neonatal RDS in term newborns. The RI, PI, PSV, and At/Et ratio are among these metrics.