Fetal Tracheal Occlusion in Lambs with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia: Role of Exogenous Surfactant at Birth

Fetal tracheal occlusion (TO) has been used to reverse the lung hypoplasia associated with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). However, TO has a detrimental effect on type II pneumocyte function and surfactant production. Previously, we have shown that in surgically created CDH lambs, TO improved markedly the response to resuscitation even though the lungs remain surfactant deficient. The goal of this investigation was to assess the effects of exogenous surfactant administered at birth to CDH lambs with or without fetal TO during 8 h of resuscitation. Lambs were divided into five groups: CDH, CDH+surfactant (SURF), CDH+TO, CDH+TO+SURF, and nonoperated controls. A left-sided CDH was created in fetal lambs at 80 d gestation. TO was performed at 108 d, and the lambs were delivered by hysterotomy at 136 d. Bovine lipid extract surfactant was administered before the first breath and again at 4 h of life. All CDH+SURF lambs, but only three of five CDH lambs, survived up to 8 h. When compared with the corresponding nonsurfactant-treated group, surfactant-treated CDH and CDH+TO lambs did not demonstrate improved alveolar-arterial oxygen gradients, pH, or Pco2. In fact, in the CDH+TO group, surfactant treatment significantly worsened ventilation efficiency as measured by the ventilation efficiency index. The observed improvement in pulmonary compliance secondary to surfactant treatment was not significant. This investigation demonstrates that prophylactic surfactant treatment at birth does not improve gas exchange or ventilation efficiency in CDH lambs with or without TO.