tazzygirl -> RE: 20 weeks abortion bill passes the HOR (6/24/2013 11:57:57 AM)
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Since it doesnt look like an answer will be given, the leading cause of death in premies is IRSD.. or Infant respiratory distress syndrome. a syndrome in premature infants caused by developmental insufficiency of surfactant production and structural immaturity in the lungs. IRDS affects about 1% of newborn infants and is the leading cause of death in preterm infants. The incidence decreases with advancing gestational age, from about 50% in babies born at 26–28 weeks, to about 25% at 30–31 weeks. Therefore, without adequate amounts of surfactant, the air-spaces collapse and are very difficult to expand. Microscopically, a surfactant deficient lung is characterized by collapsed air-spaces alternating with hyper-expanded areas, vascular congestion and, in time, hyaline membranes. Hyaline membranes are composed of fibrin, cellular debris, red blood cells, rare neutrophils and macrophages. They appear as an eosinophilic, amorphous material, lining or filling the air spaces and blocking gas exchange. As a result, blood passing through the lungs is unable to pick up oxygen and unload carbon dioxide. Blood oxygen levels fall and carbon dioxide rises, resulting in rising blood acid levels and hypoxia. Structural immaturity, as manifest by decreased number of gas-exchange units and thicker walls, also contributes to the disease process. Therapeutic oxygen and positive-pressure ventilation, while potentially life-saving, can also damage the lung. In other words, physically, while the structure of the lungs is basically intact, there is no gas exchange.... the process of breathing is interrupted. Or, the infant cannot breathe... exchange gas... as I stated before.
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