Correlation of Mechanical Properties of Infant Lungs with Surface Activity of Extracts.

Abstract

Elastic properties of lungs of newborn babies vary greatly, as indicated by pressure-volume measurements on post mortem specimens. The surface-activity of saline extracts prepared from such specimens also varies considerably. Indices expressing these two characteristics are significantly correlated in 37 cases. Deficiency or inactivation of an "anti-atelectasis factor" may be responsible for poor aeration of lungs in many newborn children.