In vitro surfactant and perfluorocarbon aerosol deposition in a neonatal physical model of the upper conducting airways.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Aerosol delivery holds potential to release surfactant or perfluorocarbon (PFC) to the lungs of neonates with respiratory distress syndrome with minimal airway manipulation. Nevertheless, lung deposition in neonates tends to be very low due to extremely low lung volumes, narrow airways and high respiratory rates. In the present study, the feasibility of enhancing lung deposition by intracorporeal delivery of aerosols was investigated using a physical model of neonatal conducting airways.

Methods

The main characteristics of the surfactant and PFC aerosols produced by a nebulization system, including the distal air pressure and air flow rate, liquid flow rate and mass median aerodynamic diameter (MMAD), were measured at different driving pressures (4-7 bar). Then, a

SUBMITTER: Goikoetxea E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4161382 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature