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A member asked:

What is surfactant in the lungs?

A doctor has provided 1 answer
Dr. Douglas Arenberg answered

Specializes in Pulmonary Critical Care

Critical: Surfactant keeps your lungs from collapsing, effectively defying the laws of surface physics to allow your air spaces to remain open and bring gas to and from your blood.

Dr Ali and 3 doctors agreed

Answered 12/9/2013

5.9k views

Thank

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I've had a chronic dry cough since having radiotherapy. All tests clear. Might this be due low levels of surfactant?

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Hi docs, is it true that pulmonary surfactants are available commercially?

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Does long-term oxygen therapy cause surfactant deficiency?

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