Friday, August 21, 2009 Medical Reports: Saving Little Lungs
Babies born too early often have trouble breathing because their
lungs are not fully developed, but now a tool used on adults is
saving lives. 7''s Richard Lemus has more in today's Healthcast.
WSVN -- Martina McCloud: "It was just scary at that point." When
a baby comes early it's a scary time for parents. Martina
McCloud: "There were so many risks and we had no clue." Twins
Dallon and Damon were born almost three months premature.
Martina McCloud: "It could go hour by hour or day by day, but
you just got to stick in there. The toughest battle for doctors
is helping the babies breathe. Ventilators keep them alive, but
in 20 to 50 percent of cases, the pressure damages their lungs.
Dr. Mario Rojas: "Every baby that has respiratory problems gets
put on mechanical ventilation. I think that we're doing more
damage at this point with that technology than benefit." But
now, instead of ventilators, doctors use a low-tech machine many
adults use for sleep