Bronchoalveolar lavage plus surfactant in a piglet model of meconium aspiration syndrome.
BACKGROUND
Meconium aspiration produces airway obstruction and surfactant inhibition. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and surfactant replacement have been proposed as treatments for the syndrome.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of BAL with normal saline followed by a supplementary dose of surfactant in a piglet model of meconium aspiration syndrome.


METHODS
15 newborn piglets were used in the study. The animals were ventilated with fixed settings. After inhalation of 4 ml/kg of diluted meconium, the piglets were randomized into three groups: group I (n = 5) - tracheal aspiration without BAL; group II (n = 5) - BAL with normal saline (15 ml/kg), and group III (n = 5) - BAL with normal saline (15 ml/kg) followed by a supplementary dose of surfactant (Curosurf(R) 100 mg/kg). Arterial blood gas samples were obtained 30 min and 6 h after the inhalation of meconium.


RESULTS
A significant increase of PaO(2 )values at 6 h after treatment was only observed in group III (from 51 +/- 13 to 189 +/- 115 mm Hg; p = 0.04). At this time, PaO(2) in group III was significantly higher compared to group II (189 +/- 115 and 37 +/- 11 mm Hg, respectively; p = 0.023) and showed a borderline significance when compared to group I (p = 0.066).


CONCLUSIONS
BAL with normal saline followed by a supplementary dose of surfactant may improve oxygenation in an experimental piglet model of meconium aspiration syndrome.
Colvero
Mauricio Obal
MO
Department of Pediatrics, Hospital São Lucas, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
Fiori
Humberto Holmer
HH
Fiori
Renato Machado
RM
Luz
Jorge Hecker
JH
de Paula
Davi
D
Oppermann
Christina
C
Pitrez
Paulo Márcio
PM
da Silva
Vinícius Duval
VD
Colvero
Aline Pieruccini
AP
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis; D018893:Bronchoalveolar Lavage / Q000379:methods*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008471:Meconium Aspiration Syndrome / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011897:Random Allocation; D013552:Swine
D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants