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

ABSTRACT

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.