Transient Tychypnoea of Newborn (A review of 28 infants)

THE term transient tachypnoea of the newborn (T.T.N.) was first used by Avery in 1966 to describe a condition characterised by a rapid respiratory rate during the first hours of life, with few or no accompanying signs of respiratory distress. Since then many authors have written about this syndrome under a variety of titles"Neonatal Tachypnoea" (Malan 1966), "Transient Respiratory Distress of the Newborn" (Swischuk 1970), "Wet Lung Disease" (Wesenberg et al 1971), "Benign Unexplained Respiratory Distress of the Newborn" (Taylor et al 1971) and "Type II Respiratory Distress Syndrome" (Sundell et al 1971), though this latter term was first used by Prod'hom and others to describe early respiratory distress with insignificant right to left shunting (Prod'hom et al 1965). The condition is probably due to delayed resorption of lung fluid after birth (Avery 1966). Radiological changes support this view. Radiographs reveal overaeration of the lungs, increased pulmonary vascularity and fluid in the horizontal fissure; free pleural fluid may occasionally be seen in the costo-phrenic angles and Kerley's "B" lines may be found (Kuhn et al 1969) (Figure). The condition is important in that although it is benign and self-limiting, it must be clearly distinguished from the idiopathic respiratory distress syndrome (I.R.D.S.). This latter condition requires active therapy as the natural mortality is high; to apply these techniques toT.T.N. may be dangerous. The incidence of T.T.N. is unknown but it is probably more common than is realised. We report on 28 neonates with this syndrome.