[Combined use of pulmonary surfactants with continuous distending pressure is useful in the treatment of respiratory distress syndrome in very low birth weight infants].

Objective: To study the efficacy of pulmonary surfactants (PS) combined with continuous distending pressure (CDP) for treatment of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants.

Methods: Ninety VLBW infants with RDS (weight <1500 g, gestational age <34 weeks) were randomly treated with a combination of PS and the Infant Flow Advance system which can provide CDP, PS alone or the Infant Flow Advance system alone (n=30 in each group). Clinical symptoms, signs, and blood gas changes were assessed 1, 6, 12 and 24 hrs after treatment.