Expanded uses of surfactant therapy.
There are few therapies for which the cumulative evidence of benefit is as much as that for surfactant therapy for RDS in premature infants. Exogenous surfactant therapy does seem to be beneficial for a number of non-RDS disorders. Although there are some trials supporting its use in MAS and ALI-ARDS, there are only a few small prospective, randomized, controlled trials supporting surfactant use in non-RDS disorders. Use of surfactant therapy for any disorder other than RDS must be considered "off the shelf" and experimental. Much work remains to be done to address the role of surfactant therapy in the myriad disorders discussed. Of import for each of the disorders is addressing the optimum type of surfactant to use, and the appropriate dose, method of delivery, and duration of treatment regimens.
Wiswell
T E
TE
Department of Pediatrics, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, New York, USA. twiswell@mail.som.sunysb.edu
D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000628:therapy*
D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants