Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Practice Exam

The primary focus of surfactant therapy for premature infants is to improve which physiological aspect?

1. Breathing pattern

2. Lung compliance

3. Oxygenation

4. Blood pressure regulation

The correct answer is: Oxygenation

Surfactant therapy for premature infants primarily aims to enhance lung compliance. Surfactant is a substance that reduces surface tension in the alveoli, the small air sacs in the lungs where gas exchange occurs. In premature infants, the lack of sufficient surfactant often leads to respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), characterized by decreased lung compliance and ineffective gas exchange. By administering surfactant, the therapy directly increases lung compliance, allowing the alveoli to expand more easily during inhalation, improving overall ventilation and oxygenation. While oxygenation is indeed affected by surfactant therapy, it is a secondary effect of improved lung compliance. The primary physiological aspect that surfactant therapy targets is the mechanical aspect of lung function, which includes how easily the lungs can expand and contract. This improvement in lung compliance leads to better air exchange and subsequently better oxygenation. Therefore, lung compliance is the most direct focus of surfactant therapy in this context.