Pulmonary surfactant is used as a medication to treat and prevent respiratory distress syndrome in newborn babies.

[5] Pulmonary surfactant is used to treat and prevent respiratory distress syndrome in newborn babies.

[6] Surfactant administration can also be effective in meconium aspiration syndrome where it has been shown to help lower length of stay.

[7][8] For patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), surfactant has not been shown to reduce mortality.

Like their natural counterparts, pulmonary surfactant preparations consist of phospholipids (mainly DPPC) combined with spreading agents such as SP-B and SP-C.[11] Ex-situ measurements of surface tension and interfacial rheology can help to understand the functionality of pulmonary surfactants.