Table 1.
Characteristics of the trials not eligible for meta-analysis
| Reference | Number of patients | Exclusion criteria | Delivery method | Type of surfactant | Other remarks |
| Reines and colleagues, 1992 [27] | 49 | Abstract only | Aerosolized | Exosurf (synthetic, no surfactant protein) | Published as an abstract. Placebo-controlled. Trend for improvement in the PaO2:FiO2 ratio and mortality |
| MacIntyre and colleagues, 1994 [26] | 10 | Abstract only. No control group. No data on oxygenation or mortality | Aerosolized | Exosurf (synthetic, no surfactant protein) | Published as an abstract. Only 4.5% of aerosolized radiolabeled surfactant reached the lungs |
| Spragg and colleagues, 1994 [15] | 6 | Crossover trial | Bronchoscopic | Porcine surfactant | Trend for improved oxygenation. Findings of reduced inhibition of surfactant function in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid after surfactant replacement |
| Walmrath and colleagues, 1996 [13] | 10 | No control group | Bronchoscopic | Alveofact (natural bovine surfactant) | Trend for improvement in oxygenation (PaO2:FiO2 ratio) |
| Pallua and colleagues, 1998 [12] | 4 | No control group | Bronchoscopic | Alveofact (natural bovine surfactant) | Improved oxygenation (PaO2:FiO2 ratio) |
| Wiswell and colleagues, 1999 [11] | 12 | No control group | Bronchoscopic | Surfaxin (synthetic surfactant) | Surfactant administration was safe. FiO2 and positive end-expiratory pressure decreased after treatment initiation |
| Walmrath and colleagues, 2000 [25] | 41 | Abstract only | Intratracheal | Venticute (rSP-C-based surfactant) | Published as an abstract. Randomized. Trend for improvement in PaO2:FiO2 ratio, number of ventilator-free days and successful weaning at 28 days in patients receiving surfactant |
| Kesecioglu and colleagues, 2001 [22] | 36 | Abstract only | Intratracheal | Porcine surfactant | Published as an abstract. Randomized. Surfactant administration was safe. PaO2:FiO2 ratio and survival were improved in surfactant group |
| Spragg and colleagues, 2001 [24] | 40 | Abstract only | Intratracheal | Venticute (rSP-C-based surfactant) | Published as an abstract. Randomized. Surfactant treatment may reduce acute pulmonary inflammation |
| Walmrath and colleagues, 2002 [14] | 27 | No control group | Bronchoscopic | Alveofact (natural bovine surfactant) | Surfactant administration was safe. Improved PaO2:FiO2 ratio |
| Spragg and colleagues, 2002 [23] | 448 | Abstract only | Intratracheal | Venticute (rSP-C-based surfactant) | Published as an abstract. Randomized. Improved PaO2:FiO2 ratio. No mortality benefit |
| Gregory and colleagues, 2003 [21] | 22 | Abstract only. No control group | Bronchoscopic | Surfaxin (synthetic surfactant) | Published as an abstract. Procedure found to be safe and tolerable |
rSP-C, recombinant surfactant protein C.