Encephaloclastic porencephaly emerged as a problem at a time when the use of chest physiotherapy had decreased. The cluster of cases seen between 1992 and 1994, although associated with the number of chest physiotherapy treatments given, began to appear because of some other factor.

Alveolar capillary dysplasia (ACD) has been described in conjunction with a number of congenital abnormalities. The case reported here was noted in utero to have duodenal atresia and a partial atrioventricular canal defect and a provisional diagnosis of trisomy 21 was considered. A fetal blood sample showed a normal karyotype. The diagnosis of ACD was made at post-mortem following a neonatal death on the tenth day. This case further highlights the range of congenital abnormalities that may be present in cases of ACD that may mimic other conditions, including trisomy 21, on antenatal scan. However, the absence of congenital anomalies, even in the same family, would not exclude the diagnosis of ACD.

CLD remains prevalent in very low birthweight infants in the CPAP era. Oxygen requirement at 14 days is the strongest predictor of CLD. Infants requiring 30% oxygen or more while on CPAP at 14 days have a 60% risk of subsequent CLD or death.