Hyaline Membrane Disease in Premature Infants: A Retrospective Study

Introduction: Hyaline membrane disease (HMD) is an anatomoclinical entity related to a quantitative or qualitative insufficiency of pulmonary surfactant.

Patients and Methods: This was a retrospective study conducted at the National Reference Center for Neonatology and Nutrition, spread over a period of one and a half years.

Results: Antenatal corticotherapy was given in only 20% of cases. Pregnancy pathology was divided between preeclampsia, gestational diabetes and gestational hypertension. 66.6% of deliveries were by caesarean section before the onset of labour. Mean gestational age was 33.9± 1.5 weeks' amenorrhea, with 10% of patients less than 30 weeks' amenorrhea of gestational age. Mean weight was 1677 ± 463 g. The very low birth weight population (birth weight< 1500) represented 46.6%. Females predominated, with a sex ratio of 1.12. Tracheal intubation with respiratory assistance was used in 66.6% of cases. 73% of neonates received exogenous surfactant, due to the extent of hypoxemia. Progression was favourable in only 26% of cases.

Conclusion: In Morocco, Hyaline membrane disease is a major cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality, requiring rapid diagnosis and early management.