Pulmonary surfactant is a complex mixture of phospholipids (PL) and proteins (SP) that reduce surface tension at the air-liquid interface of the alveolus. It is made up of about 70% to 80% PL, mainly dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC), 10% SP-A, B, C and D, and 10% neutral lipids, mainly cholesterol. Surfactant is synthesized, assembled, transported and secreted into the alveolus where it is degraded and then recycled. Metabolism of surfactant is slower in newborns, especially preterm, than in adults. Defective pulmonary surfactant metabolism results in respiratory distress with attendant morbidity and mortality. This occurs due to accelerated breakdown by oxidation, proteolytic degradation, inhibition or inherited defects of surfactant metabolism. Prenatal corticosteroids, surfactant replacement, whole lung lavage and lung transplantation have yielded results in managing some of these defects. Gene therapy could prove valuable in treating inherited defects of surfactant metabolism.

Aerosurf can be safely administered via nCPAP in preterm infants at risk for RDS and may provide an alternative to surfactant administration via an ET tube. Further studies are required to evaluate this delivery approach.

No abstract

Dilute Surfaxin lavage seems to be a safe and potentially effective therapy in the treatment of MAS. Data from this investigation support future prospective, controlled clinical trials of bronchoalveolar lavage with Surfaxin in neonates with MAS.

No abstract