Alveolar capillary dysplasia: a logical approach to a fatal disease

ACD is a fatal disease that should be suspected in all neonates with respiratory failure and PPHN who fail conventional therapy. Prompt diagnosis helps to avoid prolongation of costly treatment modalities in a uniformly fatal disease. An algorithm is proposed in which neonates with PPHN who fail treatment with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation are managed by open lung biopsy.