We provide the first complete biophysical study of surfactant by captive bubble surfactometry from a neonate with meconium-stained amniotic fluid under controlled whole body hypothermia. Surfactant function improves after 48 hours of hypothermia, as surfactant cholesterol decreases. These findings partially explain positive effect of hypothermia on respiratory outcomes during meconium aspiration syndrome. A larger study including several neonates with or without lung disease is being conducted to better define the effect of hypothermia on surfactant function.
Keywords: biophysics; cooling; meconium; neonate; surfactant.