Alternative strategies for the management of respiratory failure in the newborn--clinical realities.

Following the introduction of surfactant in the early 1990s and the growing use of antenatal steroids since that time, the number of infants, term and preterm, suffering severe acute respiratory failure has declined. However, such babies do still occur and their management causes much debate and concern not least because of the recognised high risk of adverse outcome in these babies. This article reviews the therapeutic options available when other more routine strategies fail.