What is the function of surfactants? what exactly do they do?

Helpspreemiesbreathe: Premature infants often do not have enough surfactant at birth. This surfactant is made by everyone to help keep the alveoli open to facilitate gas exchange. Sometimes a surfactant needs to be administered by endotracheal tube to the lungs to help tide the infant over until the infant makes enough-1-2 days. There is surfactant derived from cow and pigs lung. There is also a synthetic surfactant.