Final answer:
To confirm Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS), measurements of blood oxygen and carbon dioxide levels are used, indicating a state of hypoxemia and hypercapnia, as well as acidosis, due to insufficient pulmonary surfactant production.
Step-by-step explanation:
Respiratory Distress Syndrome Diagnosis
The most often used diagnostic parameter to confirm the diagnosis of Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS) is the measurement of blood oxygen and carbon dioxide levels, which indicates a state of hypoxemia and hypercapnia respectively, alongside acidosis. RDS is characterized by insufficient production of pulmonary surfactant in the lungs of premature infants, leading to poor lung inflation and compromised gas exchange. This results in low blood oxygen levels, high blood carbon dioxide levels, and a higher pH.
A diagnostic tool like spirometry can be used to detect the rate at which air can be expelled or taken into the lungs, helping to diagnose restrictive lung diseases, which include conditions like RDS.