Synthetic surfactant.

The mortality reductions after prophylactic and rescue use of synthetic and animal surfactants are identical, so the critical issue in surfactant replacement is safety, not efficacy. Synthetic surfactant has been shown to reduce both BPD and IVH, whereas animal surfactants have not. The reduction in the former may be related to synthetic surfactant's more sustained effect on lung function, and the reduction in the latter may be due to synthetic surfactant's slower onset of action. Synthetic surfactant carries no known antigenic or infectious risks, and does not increase the incidence of sepsis. For these reasons, synthetic surfactant is a particularly attractive therapeutic option for premature infants in need of surfactant replacement.