We aimed in this study to share our experience about the use of two natural surfactant preparations marketed in Turkey and to compare the clinical efficacies of these preparations. Premature newborns born between May 1998 and April 2002 with the diagnosis of respiratory distress syndrome and treated with either of the two natural surfactant preparations (Survanta ^® or Alveofact ^®) were included, and their charts were reviewed retrospectively with regard to demographic, laboratory and prognostic data. Data of the 68 and 54 newborns in the Survanta ^® and Alveofact ^® groups, respectively, were compared. Total surfactant dose, treatment failure and duration of mechanical ventilation were significantly higher in the Alveofact ^® group. Mean airway pressure and fractionated oxygen concentrations recorded during ventilatory treatment after surfactant administration at 1st, 12th, 24th, 36th and 48th hours were significantly still higher in the Alveofact ^® group. When the two groups were compared with respect to short-term prognostic criteria, the incidences of hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus requiring treatment and of chronic lung disease were significantly higher in the Alveofact ^® group. In the light of these data further prospective studies investigating Alveofact ^® with higher dosages should be conducted.

Keywords: yenidoğan, respiratuvar distres sendromu, surfaktan tedavisi, newborn, respiratory distress syndrome, surfactant treatment