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Updated: Aug 18, 2026

Lavage-induced Surfactant Depletion in Pigs As a Model of the Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)
07:20

Lavage-induced Surfactant Depletion in Pigs As a Model of the Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)

Published on: September 7, 2016

Pulmonary surfactant therapy

F R Poulain1, J A Clements

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine.

The Western Journal of Medicine
|January 1, 1995
PubMed

Insights

Surfactant replacement therapy effectively treats neonatal hyaline membrane disease, reducing mortality and air leak. Further research is needed for adult respiratory distress syndrome and other lung conditions.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatology
  • Pulmonology
  • Critical Care Medicine

Background:

  • Surfactant replacement therapy is a cornerstone in neonatal intensive care.
  • Hyaline membrane disease (HMD) remains a significant cause of respiratory distress in premature infants.
  • Exogenous surfactant administration has demonstrated clinical benefits.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the efficacy of surfactant replacement therapy in neonates with HMD.
  • To explore the potential of surfactant therapy in adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).
  • To identify areas for future research in surfactant therapy for various lung diseases.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review of clinical trials involving natural and synthetic surfactant preparations.
  • Analysis of data on mortality, air leak, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia in neonates.
  • Evaluation of preliminary findings from ARDS patient studies.

Main Results:

  • Early surfactant treatment significantly reduces mortality and air leak in neonates with HMD.
  • Surfactant therapy did not substantially decrease the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
  • Promising but limited data exist for surfactant use in ARDS.

Conclusions:

  • Surfactant replacement therapy is a vital intervention for neonatal HMD.
  • Current evidence suggests a need for optimized surfactant administration strategies.
  • Further investigation is warranted for surfactant's role in ARDS and other pulmonary conditions.

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