A lung recruitment maneuver immediately before rescue surfactant therapy does not affect the lung mechanical response in immature lambs with respiratory distress syndrome

Background:  In animals with acquired surfactant‐deficiency, a recruitment maneuver by increased tidal volumes enhances the effect of exogenous surfactant. In contrast, in the preterm lamb model, hyperinflation early after birth impairs the effect of surfactant prophylaxis. Here we examined whether a lung recruitment maneuver just before surfactant would affect the response to rescue treatment in immature lambs with established respiratory distress syndrome (RDS).