Abstract
Gastric aspirate (GA) lecithin/sphingomyelin ratios (L/S) and chest roentgenograms (CR) obtained in the first 24 hrs. of life in 87 infants with respiratory symptoms were analyzed independently. CR diagnosis was made separately by three pediatric radiologists in three categories: definite RDS (D), absent RDS (A) and equivocal of RDS (E). Clinical diagnosis was made in 87 patients (histological confirmation in 19): 34 infants had RDS and 53 had other respiratory problems.
The agreement in CR interpretation by the radiologists was tested for the various categories D, E and A by Chi2 analysis and found to be highly significant, p < .0005. The correlation of the CR diagnosis and clinical RDS, the correlation of GA L/S < 2.5 and clinical RDS, the correlation of the CR category D and the GA L/S < 2.5 and finally the correlation of the CR category A and the GA L/S > 2.5 were all significant by Chi2 analysis, p < .0005.
This report documents the accuracy of both CR and GA L/S when obtained in the first 24 hrs. of life as highly reliable studies for both the diagnosis and exclusion of RDS.
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Borer, R., Kuhns, L., Holt, J. et al. ACCURACY OF GASTRIC ASPIRATE LECITHIN/SPHINGOMYELIN RATIO AND CHEST ROENTGENOGRAM IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF RDS. Pediatr Res 8, 444 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197404000-00622
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197404000-00622