RDS – current treatment: State of the art

Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) was a disease that was often fatal for newborns well into the 70ies and 80ies. Introduction of oxygen supplementation, mechanical ventilation and CPAP were first attempts to decrease mortality. Lung maturation with prenatal corticosteroids given to the mother turned out to be most important for prevention of RDS. Surfactant bolus treatment for RDS was introduced by Fujiwara in 1980. Trials in the eighties and early nineties suggested improved outcome in VLBWs born before 28 weeks of gestation following (early) surfactant prophylaxis as opposed to (late) rescue treatment. Recen…