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Computerized image analysis of bubbles in gastric aspirate for prediction of respiratory distress syndrome
Author(s) -
Fiori HH,
Linderholm B,
Fiori RM,
Robertson B
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
acta pædiatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/j.1651-2227.2001.tb01604.x
Subject(s) - medicine , respiratory distress , gestational age , respiratory system , pediatrics , surgery , pregnancy , genetics , biology
Gastric aspirates were obtained from 80 newborn babies (gestational age 24–34 wk). Fifteen of these babies developed respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). Bubbles were generated in the samples by vigorous suctioning and the number and size distribution of the bubbles were determined in random fields by computer‐aided image analysis. Sensitivity and specificity for prediction of RDS were 87% and 78% for average diameter of bubbles (cut‐off points >45 μm) and similar for the proportion and total number of microbubbles (diameter <20 μm). Conclusion : Computerized image analysis of bubbles in gastric aspirate can be used for non‐biased prediction of RDS in newborn babies.