Respiratory distress syndrome in the newborn: innovative therapies

Neonatal respiratory distress syndrome affects 60,000 to 70,000 infants each year in the United States. Although the mortality rate has decreased dramatically over the past 30 years, many infants die or have sequelae from the syndrome. Three innovative techniques are now playing a role in improving the course of neonates with respiratory distress syndrome: surfactant replacement therapy, high-frequency ventilation and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Surfactant therapy should be considered the standard of care for infants with respiratory distress syndrome who require mechanical ventilation. Further investigation is needed to define the precise roles of high-frequency ventilation and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in the management of neonates with respiratory distress syndrome.