[The importance of the cytological study of the tracheobronchial aspirate in newborn infants with the respiratory distress syndrome who are on artificial pulmonary ventilation].

Cytological and pH-metrical investigations of the tracheobronchial aspirate were performed in 43 children with a respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) on artificial pulmonary ventilation. The content over 40% in the cytogram of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PNL) indicated infectious genesis and below 10%--noninfectious genesis of RDS. The content of PNL in the range of 11-39% requires additional clinical data which would help to establish RDS cause.