FACTORS LEADING TO TRANSIENT TACHYPNEA OF NEWBORN (TTN) IN BABIES, DELIVERED BY SPONTANEOUS VAGINAL DELIVERY AT TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL KARACHI

Abstract

Neonatal respiratory distress is a common issue, and one of its types is Transient Tachypnea of the Newborn (TTN), which happens when leftover lung fluid is not removed from the body on time. TTN usually occurs within the first 24 to 72 hours after delivery. This study aims to determine the frequency of TTN in newborns delivered vaginally and spontaneously at a tertiary care hospital in Karachi and identify the factors that may contribute to the condition. The study adopted a cross-sectional design and was conducted in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of the Department of Pediatric Medicine, Ziauddin Hospital, Karachi. After obtaining the necessary approvals, the study lasted for 9 months, from December 2021 to September 2022. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected, assembled, and analyzed. Stratification was employed to adjust for effect modifiers, and a chi-square test was used to test for statistical significance with a p-value of 0.05. The study included 153 patients who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The average gestational age, height, weight, OFC, length of hospital stay, and mother's age were 30.7 ± 4.3 weeks, 49 ± 1.79 cm, 3.01 ± 0.38 kg, 36.65 ± 1.08 cm, 3.92 ± 4.65 days, and 39.8 ± 2.78 weeks, respectively. Of the 153 patients, 71 (46.4%) were male and 82 (53.6%) were female. 44.4%, 31.4%, 45.1%, and 31.4% of the patients had maternal diabetes, PROM, obesity, and low APGAR scores, respectively. The study found maternal diabetes and obesity were the primary risk factors for TTN in newborns. The study emphasizes the importance of good antenatal and obstetric care to detect any early problems during pregnancy that may contribute to the incidence of TTN.