However, pulmonary air leaks are, naturally, leaks of air from the lungs, and these can be quite severe. In general, they can lead to chronic lung disease and other problems. When babies have a significant amount of respiratory distress, pulmonary air leaks are often associated with it. One of the reasons that this takes place is that there is not enough surfactant in the lungs and when this coating is missing air is able to escape more easily. In babies that are full-term this is generally not a problem but preterm babies often have not made enough surfactant and their lungs are not yet prepared to handle the intake and exhalation of air correctly. Utilizing different types of surfactant is one of the ways that PAL can be treated because the coating on the inside of the lungs will help stop air from escaping. There are different types of surfactants that can be used and whatever works best for that baby and is utilized generally by that particular doctor will be the best choice. There are several specific areas that air can leak from and this is why pulmonary air leak syndromes are listed as...

Air may be leaking from one place or from more than one place depending on the severity of lung problems and any other chronic abnormalities or issues that the infant might be facing. The benefits of surfactants should not be overlooked, however, as some of them can reduce the incident rate of pulmonary air leak in preterm infants by as much as 45%. This is extremely significant to infants and preterm babies that are struggling to breath properly, and extremely significant to their parents as well (pediatrics.aapublications.org, 1997).
Works Cited pediatics.aapublications.org. (1997). A Multicenter Randomized Masked Comparison Trial of Synthetic Surfactant vs. Calf Lung Surfactant Extract in the Prevention of Neonatal Respiratory Distress Syndrome. Retrieved 9 February 2005 at http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/100/1/39 www.nichd.nih.gov.(2004). Rescue high frequency oscillatory ventilation vs. conventional ventilation for pulmonary dysfunction in preterm infants. Retrieved 9 February 2005 at http://www.nichd.nih.gov/cochraneneonatel/DHS8/DHS.HTM.