Aerosolized Surfactant for Preterm Infants with Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Area of Science:

• Neonatal Medicine
• Respiratory Physiology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Current surfactant administration for respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in preterm infants primarily uses intratracheal instillation.
• Emerging evidence suggests aerosolized surfactant is an effective non-invasive treatment strategy.
• Significant advancements in aerosolization systems have occurred over the past sixty years.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a historical overview of the development of aerosolization systems for surfactant delivery.
• To review the essential mechanisms for creating and managing optimal aerosolization systems for lung delivery.
• To highlight areas requiring further research for optimizing aerosolized surfactant therapy.

Main Methods:

• Historical narrative review of aerosolization system development.
• Overview of aerosolization principles: delivery, distribution, deposition, and dispersion in the human lung.
• Discussion of current challenges and future directions in aerosolized surfactant research.

Main Results:

• Sixty years of development in aerosolization systems have been documented.
• Key mechanisms for effective aerosol delivery, distribution, deposition, and dispersion are outlined.
• The field of aerosolized surfactant therapy is rapidly evolving.

Conclusions:

• Aerosolized surfactant represents a viable non-invasive alternative for RDS treatment.
• Further studies are essential to optimize dosages, nebulizers, interfaces, and breath synchronization.
• Widespread clinical application of aerosolized surfactant therapy is anticipated in the near future.