Surfactant and the neonatal lung.

Deficiency of pulmonary surfactant is responsible for a substantial proportion of the mortality and morbidity in infants born prematurely. Surfactant replacement therapy has been extensively investigated and has become a central part of neonatal intensive care in the UK over the last 3 years. Evidence for the efficacy of this treatment is provided as is a discussion of the different surfactant preparations available and different protocols for administration.