Radiological analysis of hyaline membrane disease after exogenous surfactant treatment.

BACKGROUND

Exogenous surfactant treatment of hyaline membrane disease is known to modify the pattern of radiological changes on the chest radiograph.

OBJECTIVES

To analyse and attempt to explain the radiological changes observed after exogenous surfactant treatment. Materials and methods. Thirty-nine premature infants with typical hyaline membrane disease.

RESULTS

Transient asymmetrical clearing with better aeration of the right lung in the absence of malposition of the tip of the endotracheal tube was observed in nine cases (23 %). This asymmetry was patchy in one case. It was due to a complication of mechanical ventilation in three cases [pneumothorax (n = 2) and pneumomediastinum (n = 1)]. In the other six cases, asymmetrical clearing could be related to the anatomical position of the right main bronchus, which facilitates distribution of surfactant to the right lung. However, the course of these premature infants was similar to that of infants with symmetrical chest radiological findings after treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Asymmetrical clearing of chest radiographs, sometimes patchy, after surfactant treatment requires exclusion of pneumothorax or infection but has no influence on clinical outcome.