Respiratory Distress Syndrome

[iheartkeith]

Hello! I'm A Student Interested In Becoming A Pediatric Nurse. Currently, My Partner And I Are Doing One Of Our Projects On Respiratory Distress Syndrome....we've Been Researching So Much About It, And Haven't Really Gotton Across Anything That We Can Do A Hands On Experiment On. We Still Have Some Questions That Are Still Unanswered...and It Would Be Great If This Site Can Help Me Out....

1.) How Is Surfactant Made?

2.) How Come Surfactant Does Not Stick Together When The Baby Inhales And Exhales.

3.) What Does Surface Tension Really Have To Do With Rds And Surfactant.

4.) What Is Artificial Surfactant Made Of?

5.) Is There An Experiment You Can Think Of For Us To Do To Get A Better Understanding Of Surfactant And How It Works.

Thanks!!

[Gompers, BSN, RN]

Maybe one of the moderators can move this to the Neonatal ICU forum - we deal with surfactant and babies with RDS, not general pediatrics.

There are lots of websites out there that can help you. Google "surfactant" or "RDS" and you'll probably get a ton of information. There should also be a chapter in either your pediatrics or obstetrics textbooks. Artificial surfactant has been around for over 10 years now - so your books should have been updated and will probaby have at least a page or two about this topic.

As for the experiment, an old balloon without any powder inside to lubricate it is the best example.

We're not going to do your homework for you!

[Jolie, BSN]

Try "googling" Infasurf, Survanta and Exosurf, which are the brand names of 3 neonatal surfactant products.

One of the best visual explanations I have seen was this: Give your audience each a new balloon. Have them blow a single breath into the balloon, then let it out, making note of the amount of effort required to begin to inflate the (unstretched) balloon. That is similar to the effort a newborn must make to take its first breath, overcoming the uninflated alveoli in its lungs. Without adequate surfactant to keep the alveoli partially open at the end of each breath, the newborn must exert this same effort with each subsequent breath, quickly tiring and experiencing s/s of respiratory distress such as grunting, nasal flaring, retractions, and inadequate oxygenation.

Next, have the audience blow the first breath into their uninflated balloons, then pinch the neck of the balloon to keep the air in. Then have them blow 3 or 4 more breaths into the balloon without letting any air out. These subsequent breaths are easier, because the residual air in the balloon acts like surfactant in alveoli, keeping the balloon partially inflated, and reducing the amount of work necessary to fully inflate the balloon.

Good luck on your project.