Surfactant Lung Lavage vs. Standard Care in the Treatment of Meconium Aspiration Syndrome-A Randomized Trial.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of surfactant lung lavage (SLL) on duration of respiratory support in neonates with meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS).

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

Sixty term infants with MAS who had moderate to severe respiratory distress (Downes score >4) were randomized toSLL (n = 31) or no lung lavage-NLL (n = 29). Neonates in intervention group underwent lung lavage with dilute surfactant and those in control group were managed as per unit protocol.

RESULTS

The median duration of respiratory support was 34 h in SLL group and 44 h in NLL group (p value = 0.994). The duration of oxygen therapy post-respiratory support decreased by 78% in SLL as compared with NLL group (4 vs. 18 h) (p value = 0.005). Lavage procedure was well tolerated with fall in mean heart rate by just 20/min and in mean saturation drop by just 6% during the procedure.

CONCLUSION

Lung lavage is well tolerated by neonates, but it does not alter overall duration of respiratory support.