Introduction: study background
Neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is a condition affecting newborns, particularly ones born prematurely. RDS is characterized by trouble associated with fast and shallow breathing, increased heart rate, bluish color of the skin caused by hypoxia, brief stops in breathing and other symptoms. The progress of this breathing disorder may eventually lead to ventilator failure (Speer, 2011). Generally accepted view is that RDS is partially caused by inability of newborn`s lungs to produce a chemical substance, surfactant (Speer, 2011; Polin et al., 2014). Surfactant can be defined as a complex chemical substance consisting of proteins, lipids and glycoproteins. It serves to prevent alveolar collapsing by …show more content…
Compliance can be defined as an ability of lungs to expand in size. Due to surfactant chemical composition (presence of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine, the main constituting lipid), the substance greatly reduces the surface tensions of the alveoli. During the process of expiration, the alveoli decrease in their size and the surfactant/ alveolar surface ratio increases. This way the physiological function of surfactant (decreasing surface tension) is enhanced. Very low alveolar surface tension allows alveoli to significantly increase their volume during the inflation phase and inhail more air (Nunn, 2014). This way pulmonary surfactant indirectly fascilitates oxygen exchange (Polin et al., …show more content…
The technique of less invasive surfactant administration (LISA) has been tested on preterm lambs. LISA is characterized by administering surfactant by placing a medical thin catheter through vocal cords. The technique has a high potential as it is less invasive compared to traditional intubation methods. Niemarkt et al. (2014) argue that LISA significantly improved oxygenation although led to slightly lower lung compliance rates when compared to standard technique of maintaining a stabile lung air
Neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is a condition affecting newborns, particularly ones born prematurely. RDS is characterized by trouble associated with fast and shallow breathing, increased heart rate, bluish color of the skin caused by hypoxia, brief stops in breathing and other symptoms. The progress of this breathing disorder may eventually lead to ventilator failure (Speer, 2011). Generally accepted view is that RDS is partially caused by inability of newborn`s lungs to produce a chemical substance, surfactant (Speer, 2011; Polin et al., 2014). Surfactant can be defined as a complex chemical substance consisting of proteins, lipids and glycoproteins. It serves to prevent alveolar collapsing by …show more content…
Compliance can be defined as an ability of lungs to expand in size. Due to surfactant chemical composition (presence of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine, the main constituting lipid), the substance greatly reduces the surface tensions of the alveoli. During the process of expiration, the alveoli decrease in their size and the surfactant/ alveolar surface ratio increases. This way the physiological function of surfactant (decreasing surface tension) is enhanced. Very low alveolar surface tension allows alveoli to significantly increase their volume during the inflation phase and inhail more air (Nunn, 2014). This way pulmonary surfactant indirectly fascilitates oxygen exchange (Polin et al., …show more content…
The technique of less invasive surfactant administration (LISA) has been tested on preterm lambs. LISA is characterized by administering surfactant by placing a medical thin catheter through vocal cords. The technique has a high potential as it is less invasive compared to traditional intubation methods. Niemarkt et al. (2014) argue that LISA significantly improved oxygenation although led to slightly lower lung compliance rates when compared to standard technique of maintaining a stabile lung air