Prevention is generally done in babies born at a gestational age of less than 32 weeks.[1] It is given by the endotracheal tube.[1] Onset of effects is rapid.[2] A number of doses may be needed.[2]
Surfactant administration can also be effective in meconium aspiration syndrome where it has been shown to help lower length of stay.[7][8]
For patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), surfactant has not been shown to reduce mortality. However, it may be beneficial in those with COVID-19 associated ARDS.[9][10]
There are a number of types of pulmonary surfactants available. Like their natural counterparts, pulmonary surfactant preparations consist of phospholipids (mainly DPPC) combined with spreading agents such as SP-B and SP-C.[11] Ex-situ measurements of surface tension and interfacial rheology can help to understand the functionality of pulmonary surfactants.[12]
Synthetic pulmonary surfactants:
Colfosceril palmitate (Exosurf) – a mixture of DPPC with hexadecanol and tyloxapol added as spreading agents
Pumactant (Artificial Lung Expanding Compound or ALEC) – a mixture of DPPC and PG
Lucinactant (KL4, trade name Surfaxin) – composed of DPPC, palmitoyl-oleoyl phosphatidylglycerol, and palmitic acid, combined with a 21 amino acid synthetic peptide (sinapultide) that mimics the C-terminal helical domain of SP-B.[13]
Beractant (Survanta) – extracted from minced cow lung with additional DPPC, palmitic acid and tripalmitin, manufactured by Abbvie
(Beraksurf) – extracted from minced cow lung with additional DPPC, palmitic acid and tripalmitin, manufactured by Tekzima
Calfactant (Infasurf) – extracted from calf lung lavage fluid, manufactured by ONY Biotech.
Poractant alfa (Curosurf) – extracted from material derived from minced pig lung
Surfactant TA (Surfacten) – derived from cows, manufactured by Tokyo Tanabe Co. [14]
Bovactant SF-RI (Alveofact) – extracted from cow lung lavage fluid, manufactured by Boehringer Ingelheim
History
Researcher John Clements identified surfactants and their role in the 1950s. Mary Ellen Avery soon after showed that the lungs of premature infants could not produce surfactants.[15]
Exosurf, Curosurf, Infasurf, and Survanta were the initial surfactants FDA approved for use in the U.S.[16]
In 2012, the US FDA approved an additional synthetic surfactant, lucinactant (Surfaxin).[17]
References
^ abcdefghBritish National Formulary: BNF 69 (69 ed.). British Medical Association. 2015. p. 217. ISBN9780857111562.
^ abMartin RJ, Crowley MA (2013). "Respiratory Problems". In Fanaroff AA, Fanaroff JM (eds.). Klaus and Fanaroff's Care of the High-Risk Neonate, Expert Consult - Online and Print,6: Klaus and Fanaroff's Care of the High-Risk Neonate. Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 252. ISBN978-1416040019. Archived from the original on 2017-01-09.
^World Health Organization (2019). World Health Organization model list of essential medicines: 21st list 2019. Geneva: World Health Organization. hdl:10665/325771. WHO/MVP/EMP/IAU/2019.06. License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.
^Ferguson JD, De Guzman J (2012). "Cardiac Arrest in Special Populations". In Brady B, Charlton NP, Lawner BJ, Sutherland SF (eds.). Cardiac Arrest, An Issue of Emergency Medicine Clinics. Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 175. ISBN978-1455742769. Archived from the original on 2017-01-09.
^Taeusch HW, Lu K, Ramierez-Schrempp D (2002). "Improving pulmonary surfactants"(PDF). Acta Pharmacologica Sinica. 23 Suppl: 11–5. Archived(PDF) from the original on 2015-03-01.