Pulmonary surfactant is a fluid produced by the body that facilitates the exchange of respiratory gases in the lungs, its action allows the pulmonary alveoli, the small pockets responsible for this exchange of gases, to remain open during breathing, by tension, which facilitates oxygen entry into the bloodstream.
Very premature births may not have enough lung surfactant production to ensure effective breathing and can therefore develop respiratory distress syndrome, resulting in severe breathing difficulties.
- Fortunately.
- There is a drug that is exogenous surfactant.
- Which mimics the natural support of the skin and helps the baby breathe on its own.
- This medicine may be given within the first hour after the baby’s birth for a faster result.
- A tube directly into the lungs.
The main function of pulmonary surfactant is to form a layer of film that allows a good opening of the pulmonary alveoli and allows breathing, through:
In this way, the lungs are always active and can make the right gas changes.
Surfactant occurs at the maturity of the baby’s lungs, but in the mother’s uterus, after approximately 28 weeks of gestation. As a result, premature babies born before this period cannot produce enough of this substance, causing respiratory distress syndrome.
This disease, also called hyaline membrane syndrome, respiratory distress syndrome, causes, as the name suggests, shortness of breath, rapid breathing, wheezing, and blue fingers and lips, which can even be fatal.
In these cases, the pediatrician may indicate the doses of exogenous surfactant to the newborn, which could be natural, animal, synthetic extracts that can replace the function of the surfactant produced in the lungs and allow adequate breathing.