Perinatal implications of the respiratory distress syndrome.

Major advances in the prevention and treatment of the respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) have occurred. Since 1970 there has been a fall in the mortality rate but not in the incidence. Persistence of the disorder could be partly accounted for by the increasing practice of elective delivery in normal pregnancies. In 1974 and 1975, 28 (25%) of babies with RDS were delivered this way and six died. The major problem appeared to be mistaken gestational age.