The condition is called persistent fetal circulation and soon results in severe respiratory distress.

Persistent fetal circulation is a condition caused by a failure in the systemic circulation and pulmonary circulation to convert from the antenatal circulation pattern to the "normal" pattern.

Other achievements include the first description of persistent fetal circulation syndrome, the development of continuous positive alveolar pressure (CPAP) as a treatment for premature infants, the creation of the Apgar score and the performance of the world's first pediatric heart transplant.