[Obstetric and neonatological aspects relating to incidence and importance of respiratory distress syndrome in prematurely born infants (author's transl)].

Morbidity and mortality due to respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) were analysed for 225 infants prematurely born between the 28th and 36th weeks of pregnancy in 1978. RDS morbidity accounted for 40 per cent, when based on enlarged clinical diagnosis, and for twelve per cent, when based only on radiographic thorax findings of phases II, III, and IV, according to Giedeon, and on histological post-mortem findings from the lungs. Early RDS mortality was found to be 7.5 per cent.--The rates of severe membrane syndromes and early deaths due to RDS were statistically reduced only in one pregnancy group, that is between the 31st and 32nd weeks, following prenatal Prednisolut prophylaxis. No death of infants occurred beyond the 33rd week of pregnancy, and no severe case of RDS was any longer recorded beyond the 34th week. Infants delivered by caesarean section were much more strongly exposed than others to hypoxia. Therefore, no valid information could be established about the impact of caesarean section on the development of RDS.--Conclusions are drawn from the above findings as to obstetric approach to imminent premature birth or to planned premature delivery.