Pediatric research
-
Comparative Study
Alveolar recruitment promotes homogeneous surfactant distribution in a piglet model of lung injury.
Uneven distribution of exogenous surfactant contributes to a poor clinical response in animal models of respiratory distress syndrome. Alveolar recruitment at the time of surfactant administration may lead to more homogeneous distribution within the lungs and result in a superior clinical response. To investigate the effects of three different volume recruitment maneuvers on gas exchange, lung function, and homogeneity of surfactant distribution, we studied 35 newborn piglets made surfactant deficient by repeated airway lavage with warm saline. ⋯ Increased end-expiratory volume augmented the surfactant effect only to some extent. The combination of both volume recruitment maneuvers, however, needed lung volumes beyond total lung capacity (approximately 56 mL/kg), thus probably inducing early sequelae of ventilator-induced lung injury. We conclude that volume recruitment by means of increased tidal volumes at the time of surfactant administration leads to a superior surfactant effect owing to more homogeneous surfactant distribution within a collapsed lung.