Improvement of gas exchange following endobronchial instillation of an exogenous surfactant in an infant with respiratory failure by postoperative pulmonary haemorrhage.

We administered surfactant to a 5-month-old infant with respiratory failure due to right pulmonary haemorrhage accompanied by oedema following abdominal surgery. These pathological conditions were probably precipitated by disseminated intravascular coagulation and intra-operative excessive administration of fluids, respectively. Endobronchial instillation of the exogenous surfactant (120 mg) after selective intubation of the right bronchus produced a dramatic improvement of gas exchange 30 min after treatment and of chest X-ray findings at 6 h post-treatment. This case on an infant indicates that administration of surfactant may be one of promising therapeutic approaches to respiratory failure due to pulmonary haemorrhage.