Final answer:
The RT should anticipate a diaphragmatic hernia in a term infant with very small chest size and greater chest rise on one side, rather than pneumothorax, atelectasis, or pulmonary hypoplasia, which present differently.
Step-by-step explanation:
Upon examination of a term infant immediately after birth, if the chest size is very small and chest rise is greater on the right than the left, the Respiratory Therapist (RT) should anticipate the condition to be b) Diaphragmatic hernia. This is due to the fact that a diaphragmatic hernia can cause asymmetry in chest expansion as abdominal contents push into the thoracic cavity. This condition is distinct from pneumothorax (which might cause a sudden, unilateral chest rise), atelectasis (usually seen as collapsed areas on radiography), and pulmonary hypoplasia (where the entire lung may be underdeveloped, but asymmetry in chest rise is not typically the defining characteristic).
Additionally, it's important to acknowledge that respiratory distress can occur in premature infants due to insufficient production of pulmonary surfactant by type II cells, leading to difficulty inflating the lungs. Yet, since the case presented discusses a term infant with asymmetric chest rise, diaphragmatic hernia becomes a more likely consideration.