Objective: Both pulmonary and extra pulmonary causes could present as tachypnea and respiratory distress. We have planned a study to evaluate acid base status and outcome of neonatal respiratory distress. Methods: A prospective study carried on neonates admitted in intensive care unit from 1 st August 2015 to 31 st August 2016 in Department of Paediatrics. Ethical Clearance was taken by Ethics Committee of the college. Newborns brought to our NICU with respiratory distress were included in study randomly. After detailed clinical history, examination, arterial blood was taken in all the babies for ABG analysis with necessary precautions along with other routine investigation and stabilization of the baby. Results: A total of 115 neonates with respiratory distress were selected for study, out of these about 24.34% had normal pH, 45.21% had metabolic acidosis, 21.73% neonates had respiratory acidosis and 8.69% had mixed pH disorder. Neonates having respiratory distress with normal pH 85.71% were discharged from the hospital, 7.14% went LAMA and 7.14% expired during the treatment. Neonates having respiratory distress with abnormal pH 77.01% were discharged from the hospital, 2.29% went LAMA and 20.68% expired during the treatment. Conclusion: The expiry rate was significantly higher in neonates having abnormal pH with respiratory distress than in neonates with normal pH with respiratory distress (p<0.05).

Keywords: Neonatal Respiratory Distress; Acid Base Abnormality; Meconium Aspiration Syndrome; Transient Tachypnea of Newborn.