Exogenous surfactant and alveolar recruitment in the treatment of the acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Objective: To investigate the effect of alveolar recruitment combined with surfactant administration on children with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

Material And Methods: A prospective, randomized, controlled and sequential study was carried out. Group A (16 children) was treated with both the alveolar recruitment manoeuvres (ARM) and the administration of the surfactant every 8 h for 3 days; group B (15) received the usual treatment only.