Meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS) is an important cause of severe respiratory failure in newborn infants. Treatment for MAS is mainly supportive but surfactant therapy might change the course of the disease. Aim of the study to evaluate whether lung lavage with dilute or bolus poractant alfa changes the duration of mechanical respiratory support or other outcomes in MAS.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Infants with a gestational age ≥ 36 weeks, birth weight ≥ 2.0 kg, evidence of passage of meconium at or before delivery, typical chest radiology findings and mechanically ventilated infants with a mean airway pressure ≥ 12 cm H2O were enrolled.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Congenital cardiac anomalies
• Major congenital anomalies
• Hemodynamically unstable infants