title: Evaluation of Surfactant Replacement Therapy Effects--A New Potential Role of Lung Ultrasound.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous studies suggested that effects of the surfactant administration in preterm intants with respiratory distress syndrome cannot be followed by lung ultrasound (L-US).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the paper is to evaluate the surfactant replacement therapy effects using a new, proposed grading system for L-US findings.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report the series of 12 preterm infants with clinical and radiographic signs of respiratory distress syndrome, in whom L-US examinations were performed prior to, and within the first 24 hours after surfactant administration. To evaluate the surfactant replacement therapy effects, we proposed a new grading system (1 to 6) for L-US findings at each examined lung area, based on the presence of normal finding, the amount of B-lines and subpleural consolidations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All preterm infants had an improvement of L-US findings from one to four grades observed within the first 24 hours after surfactant administration, which has not been previously reported. The improvement of L-US findings was most commonly observed in anterior lung areas.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  L-US might enable an early detection of the surfactant replacement therapy effects. Further prospective studies are necessary to define the role of L-US in this field.
authors.forename: Jovan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lovrenski
authors.forename: Erich
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sorantin
authors.forename: Sanja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stojanović
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Doronjski
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lovrenski
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants