Therapeutic effects of exogenous surfactant enriched with dextran in newborn rabbits with respiratory failure induced by airway instillation of albumin

The aim of the study was to investigate lung function and morphology in newborn rabbits with acute respiratory failure induced by airway instillation of albumin and to test whether the therapeutic effect of exogenous modified natural surfactant could be enhanced by addition of dextran. Rabbits (gestational age 29 days) were ventilated with 100% O2 and tidal volume 8–10 ml/kg. Respiratory failure was induced by tracheal instillation of albumin (50 or 100 mg/ml; 2 ml/kg) and the instillation was repeated 15 min later. Surfactant (Curosurf, 200 mg/kg) with or without addition of dextran (30 mg/ml) was administered 15 min after the second dose of albumin and animals were then ventilated for another 60 min. In one series of experiments, instillation of albumin was followed by administration of diluted Curosurf (40 mg/kg) with or without dextran (30 mg/ml). Animals with initial lung–thorax compliance (CLT)<0.6 ml/kg cm H2O were directly treated with surfactant without previous instillation of albumin. Animals treated with a larger dose of Curosurf (200 mg/kg) showed a significant increase in CLT at 60 min with no difference between groups receiving high or low dose of albumin. Addition of dextran to Curosurf at high dose (200 mg/kg) reduced the therapeutic response (P<0.05 vs. Curosurf without dextran). After treatment with low-dose Curosurf (40 mg/kg) CLT increased more prominently after Curosurf+dextran than after non-enriched surfactant (P<0.05). Dextran potentiated the treatment effect of Curosurf at suboptimal dose (40 mg/kg) but not at high dose (200 mg/kg) in animals with low-grade surfactant deficiency or respiratory failure induced by airway instillation of albumin.