All issues > Volume 38(2); 1995

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1995;38(2):151-158. Published online February 15, 1995.

Sequential Changes of Chest Radiographic Finding after Exogenous Surfactant Replacement Therapy in Neonates with RDS

Hyeok H Choi¹, Chong-Woo CW Bae¹, Sa-Jun SJ Chung¹, Yong-Mook YM Choi¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea

Abstract

Purpose
: The chest radiograph is useful and reliable in assessing the severity and progres-sion of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome. To evaluate the effect of exogenous surfactant r eplacement therapy, we performed sequential observation of chest radiogratphic findings in ne-onates with respiratory distress syndrome.
Methods
: Two groups of infant with RDS in mechanical ventilation therapy were studied. S-urfactant(S-Tx) group(n=36) was treated with Surfactant-TA and control group(n=19) was without use of surfactant. Observation of gestational age, birth weight, clinical severity by ventilatory index, sequential change of radiographic findings and radiological complications in RDS patients were performed.
Results
: In RDS patients, there was correlation in the radiologic grading and clinical severit-y. In surfactant treated infants, change of chest radiographic finding was significantly improved than control group. Incidence of pneumothorax and or pulmonary interstial emphysema in S-Tx group was less than that of control group.
Conclusion
: Exogenous pulmonary surfactant replacement therapy may contribute the im-provement of the clinical and radiological severity and reduction of the incidence of clinical co-mplications. We suggest that surfactant replacement therapy is effective and important useful therapeutic method in neonates with respiratory distress syndrome.

Keywords :Respiratory distress syndrome, Surfactant replacement therapy, Radiographic findings