title: Surfactant replacement therapy.
abstract: Surfactant replacement therapy for treatment or prevention of the respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) has been studied intensively over the past decade. Randomized controlled trials have demonstrated a reduction in the odds of neonatal death of about 40% and of pulmonary air leaks of 35 to 70% depending upon the type of surfactant used. Prophylaxis or very early treatment is superior to later treatment, especially for the very preterm (< 28 week) infant. Natural (derived from animal lungs) surfactants have a more rapid onset of action than synthetic surfactants and may also provide better long-term benefits, but further comparative trials will be needed to demonstrate this conclusively. Surfactant treatment should not be viewed as a substitute for prenatal steroid therapy to enhance fetal lung maturity; the treatments are synergistic.
authors.affiliation: Queen's University of Belfast, Northern Ireland.
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Halliday
mesh_terms: D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015552:Injections, Intralesional; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants