Conditions and diseases leading to neonatal respiratory distress and failure--definitions, incidence and outcome.

Neonatal respiratory disorders constitute a large share of admissions to the Neonatal Intensive Care Nursery. All pulmonary diseases are encountered. Exact definitions are necessary not only for management but also for classification and comparison with other centers. Out of 100 newly delivered infants, 3 will present pulmonary signs that require special care. Out of the 3, one neonate will die. It is hoped that morbidity figures be reduced and survival rates increased.