Background: In DH seems to be present a deficit of the surfactant system. We study the effects of the surfactant therapy on oxygenation, in neonates with DH.

Subjects: 11 neonates with DH, ventilated by high-frequency oscillation (HFO).

Interventions: Oxygenation index (OI), arterial-alveolar oxygen tension difference (AaDO2) and arterial/alveolar PO2 ratio(a/APO2) were evaluated before, 1 hr and 6 hrs after surfactant administration (Alveofact 50mg/Kg).

Results: In our population 11 neonates survived (group 1) and 4 died (group 2). Table

Table 1
Full size table

Conclusion: Our data suggest that prognosis in DH strictly remains linked to degree of pulmonary hypoplasia and hypertension and surfactant therapy may play an incidental role.