Computerized image analysis of bubbles in gastric aspirate for prediction of respiratory distress syndrome.

UNLABELLED: Gastric aspirates were obtained from 80 newborn babies (gestational age 24-34 wk). Fifteen of these babies developed respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). Bubbles were generated in the samples by vigorous suctioning and the number and size distribution of the bubbles were determined in random fields by computer-aided image analysis. Sensitivity and specificity for prediction of RDS were 87% and 78% for average diameter of bubbles (cut-off points >45 microm) and similar for the proportion and total number of microbubbles (diameter <20 microm). CONCLUSION: Computerized image analysis of bubbles in gastric aspirate can be used for non-biased prediction of RDS in newborn babies.