respiratory distress syndrome

noun

Definition of respiratory distress syndrome

: a respiratory disorder chiefly of newborn premature infants that is characterized by deficiency of the surfactant coating the inner surface of the lungs resulting in labored breathing, lung collapse, and hypoxemia — compare acute respiratory distress syndrome

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respirator

respiratorium

respiratory arrest

respiratory distress syndrome

respiratory leaf

respiratory nerve

respiratory pigment

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The first known use of respiratory distress syndrome was in 1964

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respiratory distress syndrome

noun

Medical Definition of respiratory distress syndrome

: a respiratory disorder that occurs in newborn premature infants and is characterized by deficiency of the surfactant coating the inner surface of the lungs, by failure of the lungs to expand and contract properly during breathing with resulting collapse, and by the accumulation of a protein-containing film lining the alveoli and their ducts —abbreviation RDS

— called also hyaline membrane disease

— see acute respiratory distress syndrome