Surfactant in the respiratory distress syndrome of the newborn

Surfactant is secreted by the type 2 pneumocytes and constitutes a liquid film lining alveoli. When this secretion is insufficient in the new-born baby, particularly in premature infants, a respiratory distress syndrome can appear. Surfactant is composed of phosphatidylcholine and certain proteins. Surfactant reduces the surface tension.

Surfactant products have a common name which ends generally in - actant such as or lucinactant newly marketed in the U.S. under the name Surfaxin*, and others, poractant alpha, beractant, bovactant, calfactant, pumactant… Surfactant is given by endotracheal instillation.