Administrarea de surfactant exogen asociata ventilatiei mecanice a reprezentat un moment important in managementul sindromului de detresa respiratorie neonatala idiopatica (Fujiwara – 1980). Pentru a reduce mortalitatea si morbiditatea prin SDRIN au fost elaborate numeroase strategii terapeutice, de la surfactant natural versus sintetic, de la terapie versus profilaxie, pana la asocierea cu ventilatie mecanica invaziva sau non–invaziva, cu extubare rapida si ventilatie de scurta durata versus intubatie cu ventilatie invaziva de lunga durata.

A very important moment in RDS management was surfactant administration. Many therapeutic strategies were elaborated in order to reduce neonatal RDS mortality and morbidity (ie. natural surfactant vs. sinthetic, therapeutic vs. prophylactic administration, invasive mechanical ventilation or noninvasive in association with surfactant, early extubation vs. long term invasive ventilation).