Overview
Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) describes the failure of the foetus to transition from antenatal circulation to extrauterine circulation leading to persistently elevated pulmonary vascular resistance and therefore, pulmonary hypertension. The workload on the heart increases to overcome this increased pressure.
PPHN can affect about 2 in 1000 births
Causes
- Maternal risk factors:
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Pre-eclampsia
- Smoking
- Chorioamnionitis
- Maternal drug use during pregnancy:
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) use
- NSAID use
