Respiratory morbidity in infants born at late preterm gestation by elective cesarean section

In the last decade, the primary cesarean section (PCS) rate has been increasing exponentially with an increasing incidence of respiratory morbidity. Respiratory morbidity in late preterm infants (LPI) may be secondary to many factors and one of them is absence of catecholamine surge in PCS without active labor which leads to lack of lung fluid clearance. The most effective strategy to prevent or decrease respiratory morbidity in LPI, as suggested by NICHD panel, is to identifying factors enhancing cardiopulmonary maturity in LPI born by PCS. There may be a role of antenatal steroid treatment in reducing respiratory morbidity in LPI born by PCS, though there is not enough evidence at present.