A randomised control study of partial liquid ventilation after airway lavage with exogenous surfactant in a meconium aspiration syndrome animal model

Aims-To test the hypothesis that lavage with exogenous surfactant before pa rtial liquid ventilation in meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS) would improv e debris removal, and therefore the effectiveness of partial liquid ventila tion. Methods-12 newborn piglets were randomised into 4 groups, partial liquid ve ntilation or gas ventilation, with and without surfactant lavage. Physiolog ical and blood gas data were compared between groups by analysis of varianc e. Results-Arterial oxygen pressure (PaO2) was improved in the group treated w ith surfactant lavage when compared with the group not receiving surfactant . PaO2 in the group receiving surfactant lavage followed by partial liquid ventilation was further improved when compared with the group treated with surfactant lavage followed by gas ventilation and the group receiving parti al Liquid ventilation alone. Conclusion-The effectiveness of partial liquid ventilation in MAS might be enhanced by pretreatment with exogenous surfactant bronchial lavage.