Researchers at University of Michigan created a 3D lung simulation and tested three controversial studies that used surfactant replacement therapy to treat acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in adults.
Surfactant replacement is successfully used in neonatal children lacking in natural surfactant, but adults with ARDS who seemingly should benefit from the therapy have shown mixed and limited results.
What they discovered was that one study that did show substantial benefit of using surfactant replacement therapy used the same dose, but relied on a more diluted preparation of the surfactant.
The study was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and may lead to reduction in deaths due to ARDS, pneumonia, and other acute lung injuries.
