Surfactant replacement therapy in acute respiratory distress syndrome from viral pneumonia.
A modified natural surfactant was administered to a patient with life-threatening adult respiratory distress syndrome caused by viral pneumonia. Subsequently, there was a marked improvement in gas exchange. In order to assess the mechanism for improved oxygenation, computed tomography of the lungs was done. Quantitative analysis of the scans taken before and after surfactant administration indicates that improvement in gas exchange was largely due to the expansion of underinflated and collapsed lung areas. Although this is a single case report, it provides insight into the possible beneficial effect of instilled surfactant in severe respiratory distress from viral pneumonia.
Putz
G
G
Division of Surgical and General Intensive Care Medicine, Clinic for Anesthesia, General Intensive Care Medicine, Innsbruck, Austria.
Hörmann
C
C
Koller
W
W
Schön
G
G
D001688:Biological Products; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010743:Phospholipids; D011024:Pneumonia, Viral / Q000150:complications; D011659:Pulmonary Gas Exchange / Q000187:drug effects; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D001688:Biological Products; D010743:Phospholipids; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants; C068291:poractant alfa