Question

Baby has surfactant deficiency which many of alevoli can collapse at the end of expiration. What is the alveolar surface tension and pulmonary compliance compared to normal infant?

Answer 1

A baby with surfactant deficiency has increased alveolar surface tension and decreased pulmonary compliance, requiring more effort to inflate the lungs and risking alveolar collapse.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a baby has a surfactant deficiency, the alveolar surface tension is increased compared to a normal infant. This increased surface tension makes the alveoli more prone to collapsing at the end of expiration since the surfactant normally acts like a detergent to reduce this tension.

Consequently, pulmonary compliance (the ability of the lungs to stretch) is reduced, as the lungs of these infants require more effort to inflate. Premature babies are especially at risk, as they produce less surfactant, leading to respiratory distress syndrome. Treatment often involves administering exogenous surfactant to reduce the surface tension and assist in lung inflation.