Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia

Abstract Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a profound lung condition affecting premature infants. Historically, this chronic lung disease was noted in premature infants who required prolonged oxygen therapy and mechanical ventilation. These patients that required high levels of oxygen and/or mechanical ventilation displayed high lung resistance due to fibrosis of the lung and airway inflammation from cytokine involvement. Severe BPD is regarded as “an infant’s need for supplemental oxygen requirement at 28 days of life and a greater than 30% oxygen and/or positive pressure at 36 weeks of corrected gestational age (CGA) in an infant born at less than 32 weeks of gestational age.” Mechanical ventilation strategies have emerged not only to manage severe BPD but also to aid in the prevention of this chronic lung condition.